Chelsea transfer news: Thibaut Courtois goes AWOL to force exit - Jack Butland lined up - 7M sport

Chelsea transfer news: Thibaut Courtois goes AWOL to force exit - Jack Butland lined up

CHELSEA are weighing up a £25m bid for Jack Butland after Thibaut Courtois failed to show up for crunch talks with Maurizio Sarri.


Posted Tuesday, August 07, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk

Chelsea transfer news: Thibaut Courtois goes AWOL to force exit - Jack Butland lined up
Chelsea transfer news: Thibaut Courtois wants to leave Stamford Bridge

Courtois was due in for training yesterday afternoon but went AWOL instead – despite Sarri wanting to quiz him about his future.

That left Chelsea frantically stepping up the search for a replacement, with Real Madrid confident they will complete a £31m deal for the Belgium No.1 in the next few days.

The Blues already had at least five names on their shortlist, including Stoke keeper Butland and Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel.

But they have now begun to widen the search, with AC Milan keeper Pepe Reina and Sevilla's Sergio Rico emerging as realistic alternatives.

Sarri knows former Liverpool keeper Reina from their time together at Napoli, but Chelsea want a younger keeper, and Butland has long had many admirers at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues would be willing to meet Stoke's £25m price tag for Butland and while the two clubs have not been in contact about him for several days, that looks set to change.

England No.1 Jordan Pickford is also a candidate but Everton have so far stood firm in saying he is not for sale.

Chelsea could still hold Courtois to the final year of his contract, but he is now expected to leave before the Spanish transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The 26-year-old wants to return to Madrid to be closer to his two children and has already been house hunting in the city, with a five-year deal waiting for him at Real.

There was some good news for Chelsea yesterday with the return to training of Eden Hazard, who has given up on a move to Real this summer.

And Brazilian star Willian has also pledged his future to the club despite three bids from Barcelona and interest from Manchester United.

The Spanish giants have cooled their interest in Hazard and do not believe he is worth anything like the £200m price tag the Blues slapped on him.

Chelsea transfer news: Thibaut Courtois goes AWOL to force exit - Jack Butland lined up
Chelsea transfer news: Jack Butland is being lined up

Chelsea have never entertained any talks with Real about Hazard and the Belgian was clear from the outset that he would not agitate for a move.

Hazard still has two years left to run on his contract and while he has been offered a new one, he remains in no rush to sign it.

Chelsea boss Sarri still wants a defender in before Thursday's Premier League transfer deadline, and is also eyeing Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir, though the Blues do not share his club's £60m valuation of the player.

Meanwhile Willian said: "I'm a Chelsea player. I always made it clear that what I wanted was to stay in the club.

"The only club I knew that really made an official offer for me was Barcelona.

"But I have my head here and I intend to continue in the club unless the club wants to sell me. But my head is here in the club."



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