Asmir Begovic
Asmir Begovic has been a consistent performer for Stoke this season. Reuters

Manchester United sent scouts to watch goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in action for Bosnia in their World Cup qualifier with Greece last Friday, according to the Daily Mail.

The Stoke City stopper has been strongly linked with a move to United in recent months, with Arsenal and Chelsea also thought to be interested. Begovic’s future at Stoke was cast into further doubt at the end of the January transfer window when Stoke signed young England goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Begovic has said that he is happy to know that United are trailing him.

“I'm not under more pressure because United are watching me,” he told Bosnian outlet Sport.ba. “I'm glad that they do because that means I'm doing something good. It gives me more motivation to do better and better.”

But the 25-year-old is remaining coy over his future.

“I'm pleased that the big clubs are interested in me but as I have said many times -- I'm happy at Stoke City because they gave me a chance to play in Premier League.

“We will see what will happen in the summer. In football you can never know 100 per cent.”

Meanwhile, Germany international Mario Gotze has intriguingly named Manchester United as one of the clubs that could one day tempt him to leave Borussia Dortmund.

Gotze, 20, is rated as one of the best young midfielders in Europe and has been linked with the likes of United and Arsenal.

While insisting he is not currently thinking of a move, Gotze has said that United are one of the clubs he believes would improve him as a player.

“Clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are attractive, and playing in another top league would shape me and help me develop as a player,” he said, according to TalkSport.

"But I'm not thinking that far ahead at the moment. I'm happy in Germany and am delighted with the way things are going. Anything else is still a long way off."

According to Italian publication TuttoSport, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has long been trailing another midfielder in Juventus’s Claudio Marchisio. The report claims that United first expressed an interest in the 27-year-old in 2010, but Juventus have steadfastly refused to even enter negotiations.

Marchisio has been a key figure as Juventus have become the dominant team in Serie A in the past 18 months and also reached the Champions League quarterfinals this season. He was also an ever present for Italy as they reached the final of Euro 2012.

It was reported in recent days that United were interested in Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala and the 22-year-old has now admitted to being flattered by the speculation. The France Under-21 international has been linked as a possible replacement for Rio Ferdinand, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

“I am definitely flattered by the interest of such a big club like Manchester United, any player would be,” Mangala revealed to Sky Sports.

"I have a contract here until 2016 so even if I want to go, Porto will have their say in the transfer."

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