Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has failed to report for pre-season training in an effort to force through a dream move to Real Madrid.
Chelsea are open to sanctioning Courtois’ exit before Thursday’s deadline but want £45million for the wantaway goalkeeper. The Blues also want a deal in place for the Belgian’s replacement before giving the shot-stopper the go ahead to rubber-stamp his move – with Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel, Stoke’s Jack Butland and Sevilla’s Sergio Rico among the names being considered. However, team-mate Eden Hazard is almost certain to stay at Stamford Bridge after being told he will not be sold before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Hazard, it is understood, has accepted the decision and will not agitate for a move away before the transfer deadline. But there is now a urgency to resolve Courtois’ protracted exit after he failed to report back from his summer holidays on time. It is Courtois’ intention to return to the Spanish capital this summer, a decision senior Chelsea officials have been made aware of. Given he has just 12 months left on his deal, the London club are eager to find a resolution to Courtois’ future rather than risk losing him for nothing next year. Chelsea have tried persuading the keeper into signing a new deal worth £200,000-per-week but their efforts have proved unsuccessful. The chances of Courtois having a change of heart are remote. Manager Maurizio Sarri, despite insisting he wanted Courtois to tell him face-to-face that he wants to leave, is aware of his keeper’s desire to quit the club. The lines of communication between Chelsea and Real have been open for several weeks, but a fee is yet to be agreed.
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