The unrest at Stamford Bridge this summer might not only cost the club their top transfer targets. It might also see some of their star players look to move elsewhere before the start of the new season. So it does not come as a surprise that a number of first-team players from Chelsea are linked with an exit this summer.
One such player, who might be close to pledging his future to the club is Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgian international joined Chelsea back in 2011 but loaned him to Spanish side Atletico Madrid, where he spent three long years, establishing himself as one of the best in the game. He moved back to Stamford Bridge back in 2014 and immediately replaced Petr Cech as the first choice at the club.
He kept 15 clean sheets last season and already has 126 Premier League appearances to his name. He has 58 appearances for the national side and will be crucial for Belgium’s chances in Russia this month. However, his contract with Chelsea runs down at the end of the next season, and Courtois does not seem too keen on extending his stay.
He has family back in Madrid, where he spent three years and reports claim that he is desperate for a move back to the Spanish capital. Real Madrid are looking to replace Keylor Navas and it was understood that Courtois was on their radar. But Roma president James Pallotta has now all but confirmed that the Spanish giants are close to signing AS Roma star Alisson Becker.
If the deal goes through, Courtois has no real reason to quit Chelsea, which will come as a huge boost for the Blues, who are already in turmoil. But just how big a relief is this new for Chelsea?
With just a year left on his contract, Courtois will not cost too much for potential suitors and would have left Chelsea in the market without proper funds to try and replace him. At just 26, Courtois is one of the most valuable shot-stoppers in Europe and is almost irreplaceable.
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Alisson, who needs to prove himself to get to Courtois’ level, is expected to cost Madrid around €70m while the only upgrade on the Chelsea man, Jan Oblak, has a release clause of €100. Courtois desire to move to La Liga would have seen him leave Chelsea on the cheap, which could have been a real disaster.
So Chelsea will now have to act fast and tie him down to a new deal, as there are still a few European giants in the market for a goalkeeper this summer.
