David de Gea has been linked with Real, but his £80m price tag could put them off
#2 Thibaut Courtois
Thibault Courtois kept more clean sheets than de Gea this season
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Considered as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers alongside de Gea and Lloris, Belgium’s Thibault Courtois is coming off another massively successful season with Chelsea, where he won the Premier League for the second time.
Courtois was a key component of the title win, as he kept 16 clean sheets – more than Lloris and de Gea – and helped to shore up a defence that took manager Antonio Conte a relatively long time to get settled. While he’d be tougher to sign than Lloris given Chelsea’s financial situation, he probably wouldn’t cost as much as de Gea, and he also has a lot of other plus points.
At just 25 he’s almost guaranteed to be around the top of the game for another decade at least, and yet he’s already gained vital experience, both with Belgium at an international level but more importantly at club level. While he’s only been Chelsea’s #1 for three seasons, prior to that he spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, where he really made a name for himself, particularly as part of their Champions League side that reached the finals in 2013-14.
With previous experience – and success – in La Liga, and a lower price tag than de Gea, surely it makes more sense for Los Blancos to make a move for Courtois instead.
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About the author
Scott Newman
Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.
Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.
Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.
His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.
Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.
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