Standing in the 4th place in the points table after 12 games it is safe to say that Antonio Conte’s defence of the Premier League title has not gotten off to the greatest of starts. The Italian manager made quite a few additions to his squad in the last couple of seasons but what has worked in his favour is the fact that he has not had to sell any of his top players to other clubs in either transfer windows.
However, things might change in the next few transfer windows with a couple of his star players attracting interest from top clubs in Europe.
Zinedine Zidane, the Real Madrid manager, is desperately looking to improve on two positions in his squad and while Belgium ace Eden Hazard could solve one of those problems, his team-mate Thibaut Courtois, is now being targeted to solve the other.
Having made a mark for himself at the highest stage in Madrid, with Atletico Madrid, the 25-year old has been at Chelsea since 2011. Three years on loan in Spain helped him grow into one of the best in the business and since 2014, when he returned to the Stamford Bridge, Courtois has been the first choice for every manager at the club.
In his time in England, the Genk youth product has made 103 PL appearances till date, winning the league twice, to add to his La Liga, Europa League, League Cup and the PL Golden boot award, all in the last five years.
He is one of the most respected and decorated shot-stoppers currently in Europe and is contracted to Chelsea till 2019. He is coy about extending his stay in London and reports claim that Real Madrid are now desperate for his services, to replace the ageing Keylor Navas on goal at the Bernabeu.
So can Chelsea afford to lose him?
Even with under two-years left on his contract, the 25-year old will fetch a decent value in the transfer market but at the moment, the list of names that can replace him is quite small.
With incredible reflexes and a natural ability to command his box, Courtois has been a wall at the back for Chelsea, who managed to replace Petr Cech without much of an issue. However, replacing the Belgian might be a tougher task.
His age and potential are attractive and his experience, world class. The Blues will have a nightmare of finding a replacement and will have to do all it takes to tie him down to a new contract, as soon as possible.
Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, RB Leipzig’s Peter Gulacsi, Barcelona’s Ter Stegen and Stoke City’s Jack Butland have all been linked with a move to the club recently and though a couple of those names do sound impressive, Chelsea will do well to keep their prized possession, and not worry about the quality on goal for years to come.
