Liverpool and Real Madrid are serious candidates to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as he enters the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, according to Sky Sports Italy reporter Gianluca di Marzio.
The reliable journalist claimed via his personal website that Courtois’ spell at Chelsea could come to an end this summer as contract negotiations are not going as well as the London club would have hoped.
The Telegraph reported in January that the Belgium international wanted to improve his current £100,000-a-week, however there is yet to be any agreement between club and player.
The goalkeeping colossus, who stands at 6ft 5in tall according to transfermarkt, is now said to be on Liverpool’s radar after Lorius Karius’ nightmare display against Real Madrid in the Champions League final last week.
Good move for Liverpool?
Courtois would be an excellent signing for Jurgen Klopp and would represent a clear improvement on the current goalkeeper options at Anfield.
Chelsea may have to let him leave this summer if he doesn’t sign a new deal, otherwise he could leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer next year.
That means that a deal would be financially viable for the Reds, but the shot-stopper would still demand hefty wages.
There have been other goalkeepers linked with Liverpool since Karius’ shocker in Kiev, and some of them, such as Alisson, may be better bets than Courtois.
This is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
With Real Madrid interested, it seems that Chelsea would rather Courtois left the country to return to Madrid rather than join a Premier League rival.
That would allow them to bump up the price that Liverpool would have to pay and that may lead Klopp to go after other shot-stopper targets.
This is Futbol rating 3/10