Chelsea: 5 Potential Replacements for Courtois 

With less than a week to go until this year's transfer window closes, Real Madrid appear to be upping their game to secure the services of Chelsea goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.

The Champions League winners are said to have put in a very reasonable offer for the Belgian number 1, and Courtois' agent has reportedly suggested that Chelsea should seriously consider accepting the offer if they want to make anything for the keeper, whose contract expires next Summer.

If Courtois is to head to the Spanish capital, then Chelsea will need to act quickly to sign his replacement. With only days to go in the transfer window, they run the risk of having to splash some serious cash to get in their next number 1.

With that in mind, let's have a look at five keepers who could find themselves in between the sticks for Chelsea's opening game.

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#5 Jack Butland

Stoke will be desperate to keep hold of Butland

Stoke have had an incredibly busy pre-season, with the new manager, Gary Rowett signing up several players in a bid to get The Potters back to the Premier League.

With the transfer window set to close very soon, The Midlands-based club will be hoping that they can keep hold of England international and their number 1 goalkeeper, Jack Butland.

Butland was one of Stoke's few stars last campaign, and Chelsea have been rumoured to have been chasing him for the majority of the transfer window.

While Stoke have claimed that there have been no substantial bids for the England stopper, if Chelsea lose Courtois, then there is every chance they will chuck some big money at him.

#4 Jan Oblak

Jan Oblak replaced Courtois at Atletico Madrid

The Slovenian stopper was brought in as a replacement for the Belgian at Atletico Madrid in 2014, and has since gone on to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and would be the ideal replacement for Courtois.

Oblak earned himself mass plaudits for his impressive performances in La Liga and The Europa League last season, and he will come with a hefty price tag.

If Oblak were to leave Madrid for London, there is every chance that Chelsea could break Liverpool's recent £66.8 million transfer record for a goalkeeper in the process.

#3 Petr Cech

Could Petr Cech make a heroic return to Stamford Bridge?

While some fans may consider Chelsea resigning Petr Cech as something of a step backwards, the former Czech number 1 may be the most economical option for the club.

Cech won 4 Premier League titles in his 10-year reign at Chelsea, before leaving to make way for Courtois in 2015, and is considered a legend at Stamford Bridge.

Cech's position as Arsenal number 1 is under threat following the arrival of Bernd Leno from Bayern Leverkusen this Summer, and a move back to his old stomping ground may be the best move for him.

Unlike a lot of keepers on this list, Cech would probably come for a reasonable price tag, given his age and the fact that he is likely to be out of favour at Arsenal.

#2 Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford became a hero for England in Russia

Jordan Pickford become a national treasure when his penalty heroics sent England through to their first World Cup quarter-final in 12 years last month, and the Everton stopper will have put himself on the radar of several big clubs.

Pickford became one of the most expensive goalkeepers of all time last Summer when he joined Everton from Sunderland for £25 million, and Chelsea would likely have to cough up even more than that to secure his services.

Despite that, Pickford is still considered one of the favourites by the bookmakers, and if Courtios does leave, Chelsea may be desperate enough to throw an open cheque Everton's way.

#1 Kasper Schmeichel

Kasper Schmeichel is favourite to join Chelsea, but will Leicester let him go?

Kasper Schmeichel is currently the bookies favourite to replace Courtios, and after impressing for Denmark in the World Cup, it's easy to see why.

The Leicester keeper already has a Premier League winners medal under his belt and has been one of the division's most consistent keepers in recent years.

That being said, Leicester aren't likely to want to lose the Dane, especially with the end of the transfer window so close. Money talks though, and Chelsea have more than enough to prize Schmeichel away from the East Midlands.