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Thibaut Courtois has firmly cemented his standing as one of the world's best goalkeepers. Ever since his successful spell at Atletico Madrid, the Belgian's individual displays as the final frontier have earned him the admiration of both players and managers across the world.
Currently at Chelsea, he was excellent and kept the fearsome Manchester United attack at bay - helping the Blues lift their eighth FA Cup title by doing so. While he's currently out on international duty, preparing for a World Cup in Russia this month with Belgium, talks over a new contract extension in west London have stalled.
It's no secret that the club have been trying to get him to sign a new deal since the end of their title-winning campaign back in 2016/17, but the 26-year-old finds himself in a position of power and has an important decision to make in the coming months.
With a year left on his existing deal at Stamford Bridge, his situation is complicated by the fact that his children live in Madrid with his ex-girlfriend. By his own admission, he longs to be reunited with them, wishing to be present with his family.
With all of that in mind, here is a look at three of the most probable destinations for Courtois if he does eventually decide to leave Chelsea.
#3 Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)
PSG are being touted as dark horse candidates to sign Courtois this summer. When the club were taken over by Qatari owners, they oversaw a massive squad overhaul - bringing in world-class talent at huge costs.
However, they are yet to acquire a generational talent in goal. Salvatore Sirigu performed at a high level during the first campaign but struggled with consistency issues thereafter. Kevin Trapp was signed from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and despite some impressive displays, he struggled against top sides when it mattered most - ultimately costing them in the Champions League.
The opportunity to bring in a goalkeeper of Courtois' ability in the current market is rare. Usually, goalkeepers are cemented players of their respective sides and given the stable nature of the position, the opportunity to sign a world-class one is increasingly slim. So with that in mind, are ready to pounce on this opportunity and are reported to be leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of the 26-year-old.
The biggest incentive that they are prepared to offer is a lucrative contract deal. Currently, Chelsea are planning to build a new stadium which naturally requires plenty of funding. Antonio Conte has repeatedly criticised the club's lack of transfer activity in comparison to champions Manchester City.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Conte's own future in west London, coupled with Chelsea's failure to qualify for the Champions League, Courtois could be tempted to move this summer. There, he would play a crucial role in the promising project which PSG continue to build upon - enjoying a pay rise while doing so.
The biggest stumbling block to this move is the fact that Courtois' family currently live in Madrid and FIFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations would also further complicate their attempts to make a deal too. The club are set to pay €160m to AS Monaco, making Kylian Mbappé's move a permanent one after a season-long loan deal.
Courtois certainly would not be a cheap acquisition, not least from Chelsea, who are keen to keep hold of their first-choice goalkeeper. If the deal was to go through, PSG would have to sell a variety of first-team players in order to successfully balance the books and avoid risk of further punishment. Given their level of squad depth though, this should not be too difficult an option for them to pursue.
#2 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
This move has relatively more realistic chances of materialising in comparison to the aforementioned PSG move. Atletico already have a world-class goalkeeper at their disposal in Jan Oblak, but this deal could still go through regardless.
It has been established that both Courtois and Oblak belong to the same high echelon in the footballing world. With that in mind, a blockbuster swap trade deal could be negotiated between the two clubs. This scenario would prove beneficial for both.
Chelsea trade one outstanding goalkeeper for another, while Atletico welcome the return of their former number one who enjoyed some of his best years to date playing in Madrid.
He knows and fully understands the tactical tendencies of La Liga and has proven his capabilities to perform at the highest level in two of Europe's top leagues. Having already played under current boss Diego Simeone, it would also prove a seamless transition back to Spain too as the pair enjoy a comfortable rapport.
This move would also enable Courtois to finally be with his family again, something that he has been longing for in recent seasons. His inability to bring his children to London given their settled state in Spain makes it a difficult situation.
With a year left on his existing deal, Oblak's arrival at Chelsea would effectively solve all of this whilst Courtois himself is able to play at home without the mental burden of being away from family any longer.
#1 Real Madrid (La Liga)
The prime contenders to lure Courtois away are Atletico's cross-town rivals, Real. Ever since his impressive displays for Chelsea, Courtois has found himself consistently linked with Los Blancos.
Real have won the Champions League on three consecutive occasions and during his most recent meeting with them, they ran out 4-1 winners over Atletico during the 2014 final.
Out of the trio, Real are undoubtedly the best side and are likely to offer the most in terms of weekly wages too. Chelsea still hope the Belgian will sign on improved terms but with twelve months left on his existing deal, they are prepared to cash in now - rather than let his contract run down and receive nothing in a year's time.
Keylor Navas, Real's current first-choice, has shown flashes of brilliance which have also been clouded by periods of inconsistencies and notable mistakes along the way too.
Courtois, 26, potentially still has a decade left at the peak of his powers - while Navas, who is six years older, continues to warrant criticism for his unconvincing displays at times. Kiko Casilla is not rated highly enough to justify a starting spot, so this move would make sense.
Chelsea would naturally need to find a capable replacement in the market, as Jan Oblak without a trade option will prove an expensive option.
However, if history is anything to go by, when a side like Real Madrid come calling, few players across the world are able to resist their advances. It'll be interesting to see how this saga unfolds, but we could very well see Courtois donning the famous all white strip of Real in future.
