Chelsea star reportedly holding out for Spain move
Britain Football Soccer - Sunderland v Chelsea - Premier League - The Stadium of Light - 14/12/16 Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois celebrates after the game Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Spanish newspaper Marca are reporting that Real Madrid may look to exploit goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’s contract situation at Chelsea.
The Belgian international will have 18 months left on his contract in January and Goal.com reporter Nizaar Kinsella says the Blues are keen to tie the 25 year old down to a new deal. He says however that the club’s priority is to secure Belgian team mate Eden Hazard to a new contract first.
Marca say Real could make their move for Courtois in the mean time. The keeper has never hidden his desire to return to Madrid one day after his successful three year loan spell at Atletico Madrid, and the Spanish publication says that Courtois has decided not to commit his long term future to Chelsea as he waits a call from Real.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is said to be determined to keep the player but others at the club have intimated to Marca that they fear Courtois has his heart set on a switch back to Spain.