'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Blues have agreed to trigger Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's £71 million release clause, according to the Telegraph. Chelsea has less than 48 hours to complete the deal, which will see Kepa replace Courtois at the Stamford Bridge.
Thibaut Courtois has made his intentions clear that he wants to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid football team. According to Telegraph sport, Courtois is forcing a move to Real Madrid by going AWOL on Monday. The Belgian also failed to appear for training on Tuesday.
Thibaut Courtois had spent three years in Spain with Atletico Madrid before joining Chelsea. The Belgian international has just one year left on his current Chelsea contract and has rejected the Blues' renewed contract offers. He favours a move to Madrid as his family still resides there.
“My personal situation is related to the city of Madrid, it's known. My two children live there with their mum. I have my daughter every day on Facetime. She often tells me that I miss her. My son is still too small to communicate like that", he said in an interview with Belgian magazine Sport.
On that note, let's take a look at the five goalkeepers Chelsea could have signed for less than £71 million.
#5 Alphonse Areola
The Frenchman became the first World Cup winner in 36 years to claim a medal despite never being capped. The 25-year-old was Didier Deschamps' third-choice goalkeeper in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Areola was a mainstay in the Paris Saint-Germain squad last season with 34 Ligue One appearances. Though he made a few mistakes in his short PSG career, he has improved a lot in the last 18 months.
With 15 clean sheets, Alphonse Areola is fifth in Europe for most clean sheets during the 2017/18 season. PSG have bought Gianluigi Buffon from Juventus this summer and Areola's place in the starting lineup is far from certain for the next season. TransferMarkt values him at around €15 million.
#4 Jack Butland
After a stunning 2017/18 Premier League campaign with The Potters, Jack Butland has emerged as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. He was also selected in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Though Stoke City was relegated to the EFL Championship, he was one of their standout performers in the Premier League. The 25-year-old has made 135 saves in the league last season, which was the most among the goalkeepers who played in the Premier League.
Jack Butland was under Chelsea's radar all through the summer and expected to cost around £30 million. With all his Premier League experience, he could have been a great signing for Maurizio Sarri.
#3 Jasper Cillessen
Had he stayed at Ajax, he would have been one of the best goalkeepers in the world by now. Cillessen was phenomenal for Ajax in the Eredivisie and led them to three consecutive league titles.
However, Cillessen made a huge mistake in 2016 when he decided to make his move to Barcelona. In his two year stay at the Camp Nou, Cillessen has made just two league appearances and spent most of his time on the bench.
Ernesto Valverde preferred to play Marc Andre Ter Stegen and Cillessen was their second choice goalkeeper. Capped 40 times for the Netherlands, the 29-year-old is currently valued at around €20 million, according to transfermarkt.
#2 Kasper Schmeichel
Son of former Manchester United and Danish international goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, the Leicester City shot-stopper has been one of the more experienced and consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League for quite some time. He was an integral part of the team that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2014 and played a stellar role in their sensational Premier League triumph during the 2015/16 season.
The 31-year-old has represented Leicester City in 295 competitive games and was one of their best performers over the years. He has kept 41 cleans sheets in 133 Premier League appearances so far. Capped 39 times for Denmark, Schmeichel is valued at around €12 million, according to transfermarkt.
#1 Jordan Pickford
England undisputed no.1 is one is currently one of the best goalkeepers in European football. Jordan Pickford was exceptional for Everton during the 2017/18 Premier League campaign and was one of their top performers in the league. He has kept 10 clean sheets and made 121 saves for Everton in the Premier League last season.
Pickford took that form to the 2018 World Cup and played a huge role in England's fourth place finish in the tournament. He made some stunning saves throughout the World Cup and was outstanding for Gareth Southgate's side. The 24-year-old is under the radar of top European clubs and is valued at around €60 million by Everton.
