Chelsea to ward off Real Madrid interest with massive pay rise for Thibaut Courtois — report

Real Madrid, fresh off their reduced transfer ban, are supposedly back in the market for a new goalkeeper for next season, and thus the Courtois rumors from the previous summer have been resurrected.

However, continuing stories that we’ve heard before, Matt Law of the Telegraph reports that Chelsea will open talks over a new contract extension with Thibaut Courtois in the new year, with said extension set to include a massive 50% pay rise to ward off any potential interest from Real Madrid (if last summer’s £73m asking price weren’t enough) and help dissuade any notions Courtois may have of returning to Spain (if Christophe Lollichon’s reassignment and the general happiness and good vibes in the Chelsea camp weren’t enough).

The Telegraph reports that Courtois is currently on £100,000-per-week, but the wages included in the new deal will be north of £150,000. With Courtois halfway through the five-year deal signed in 2014, the time is right for the extension. The Real Madrid rumors do add a bit of urgency, but nothing that Chelsea couldn’t handle.

Let’s get this done.