Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will hold crunch talks with Chelsea this week, but could follow team-mate Eden Hazard and leave the club before the start of next season.
Hazard admitted after Belgium beat England in the World Cup third-place play-off that he was keen to move after six years at Stamford Bridge, withReal Madrid his preferred desination. The forward was one of the best players at the World Cup and a space has opened up at the Spanish giants with Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Juventus.
And in what would be a huge blow to Chelsea and their new manager Maurizio Sarri, who replaced Antonio Conte on Saturday on a three-year deal, goalkeeper Courtois, another of their key players who starred at the World Cup, has offered no assurances about his own future. Given his standing, Courtois is expecting Chelsea to match his requirements if he is to stay and sign a new deal. Courtois has only one year remaining on his current contract. Real Madrid are also a possible destination.
Meeting with Chelsea board
“I will be coming back, for sure and I will see what they want and how they say it,” Courtois said of meeting Chelsea’s board. “Obviously with this World Cup, I think what was on the table obviously is different than what I can have, maybe. In this World Cup, I have ignored all the speculation, all the rumours.
“But now in the next few days I will have a chat with my agent and see what Chelsea told him, and then we will talk. But I feel happy at Chelsea, it’s not that I neccessarily want to leave.”
Hazard said on Saturday: “After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different. Certainly after this World Cup. I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final decision – if they want me to go. You know my preferred destination.” Chelsea would expect in excess of £200million to let Hazard leave.
More on Chelsea:
How Chelsea could line up under Maurizio Sarri – and the new transfers he may target
How Eden Hazard could fit in at Real Madrid – and how they will line-up if all transfers go through
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