Chelsea have started their Champions League campaign in the best possible way, routing their opponents Qarabag by a whopping 6-0 scoreline to get a dominating victory in their opening match. The Blues went on to win their second match as well by 1-2 against Atletico Madrid, thanks to a brilliant display by their backline and the custodian Thibaut Courtois.
The 25-year-old spent a considerable amount of his career in the Spanish La Liga with Atletico Madrid, where he was sent on loan by Chelsea in 2011. He went on to play a very crucial role and helped them to make a name in the domestic as well as European competitions.
He also established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in European football at a young age. He returned to the West London club in 2014 and has been starting for them on a regular basis since then.
However, there is more than what meets the eye, as the player might be on his way back to the Spanish capital, but this time to join the derby rivals of his former club Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid. Los Blancos are currently facing some crises in their backline and might look forward to bagging the Belgian star in the next transfer window.
The 25-year-old custodian might be lured by the offer as well, with the Galacticos willing to offer him a first-team role. The player has just over 20 months left on his contract and has not yet been offered any fresh document to sign on by the Blues, igniting his willingness to leave the reigning Premier League champions.
Here are the three probable candidates who can replace Courtois at Chelsea, in case the player makes an exit in the future-
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid):
The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper is one of the best options that Chelsea can look forward to bring into their side in case they are not able to hold onto their Belgian custodian. However, the player is going to cost them nothing less than a fortune.
Alphonse Areola (PSG):
The Paris Saint Germain shot-stopper has made the most of whatever chances he has had at his disposal so far and has proved his mettle as one of the top goalkeepers in Europe. Chelsea can look to bring him in, in order to replace their Belgian maestro in between the sticks in the future. The good news is, he will come cheap as well.
Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
The 30-year-old is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League, who has been relentlessly serving Leicester City in between the sticks. It might not be a bad move for the Blues to get him into the side in place of Courtois if he leaves for Madrid in the future.
