Stoke City defender Marc Wilson has urged teammate Asmir Begovic to sign a new contract with the club.

The goalkeeper's current deal runs out in 2016, and he has been heavily linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, following the long contract extension penned by Begovic's deputy, Jack Butland.

It had been suggested that Butland was preparing to take over from Begovic, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for the best part of three years. However, Wilson, who came through the Portsmouth youth team with Begovic, insists that the Potters must keep hold of the Bosnian.

He told reporters: "I've seen him since he was 16 and we came through the same youth team together. I even said back then that he was going to be a top-class keeper and he's proving it so far.

"The club would love to tie him down as soon as possible. It's crucial to keep your best players to make those extra strides forward.The manager and everyone in the dressing room would love to keep him for the foreseeable future."

Begovic joined Stoke from Portsmouth in 2010.