Real
Madrid have told Thibaut Courtois' camp that they want to sign the Chelsea
goalkeeper, and the message from Madrid is: "We're interested."
The Spanish club have heard that Courtois, whose two children live in
Madrid, is willing to make a move to the Bernabeu and Real have decided to
change their two goalkeepers before next season.
Chelsea have prepared a Plan A and Plan B for the 25-year-old, and Plan B
sees the Premier League champions ready to hand Courtois a new contract that
would make him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world.
His current deal, around £100,000-a-week, expires in 18 months' time, and in
May the Belgian rejected an opening offer that did not meet his
double-my-money demands.
In recent weeks, his representatives have sat down with the Premier League
club in an attempt to move closer to an agreement, but significant progress
is yet to be made.
Chelsea are aware that talks over a new contract are complicated by the fact
that Courtois' ex-girlfriend is now living in Madrid with their two
children, and that the former Atletico goalkeeper has long harboured a
desire to return to a city that he considers to be home.
Courtois has registered 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season,
joint-highest alongside David de Gea and Man City's Ederson, while
Tottenham's Hugo Lloris has seven.
Courtois' save percentage (73.1 per cent) is higher than both Ederson (69.2)
and Lloris (67.2), while Courtois has not made an error leading to a goal in
the Premier League in the past two seasons, compared with De Gea (one),
Ederson (one) and Lloris (five).
And though Ederson's pass completion (87.4 per cent) towers above other
Premier League goalkeepers, Courtois' rate (71.3) far outweighs former Real
target De Gea's (55.3).
If Courtois doesn't agree to extend his contract, Chelsea would look to
complete talks over his transfer as soon as possible, even if the move were
not to take place until the summer.
As a replacement, Antonio Conte is an admirer of Sevilla's Sergio Rico and
Atletico's Jan Oblak, among others names on the wish list.
Real Madrid are seriously considering changing both of their main
goalkeepers. Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga has all but sealed a
January switch to the Bernabeu, while Real's current No 1, Keylor Navas, has
seen his form impacted by injuries and errors.
Chelsea declined to comment on Courtois' future.
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