Thibaut Courtois has been done with the World Cup for less than 24 hours, but the rumor mill has already swung into overdrive, claiming that the Chelsea netminder is close to agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract for €11-13m annual wages with Real Madrid.
Is Courtois on his way to @realmadriden?
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) July 15, 2018
Stories are starting to build suggesting that he is!
https://t.co/8jhneNkYUv pic.twitter.com/LoeF7USsnn
Considering that Courtois has been holding back less and less on his desire to move back to Spain, this development is surely more expected than shocking. It does seem just a little too quick after the World Cup — he’s barely had time to breathe and talk — but on the other hand there is truly no time to waste for Chelsea.
TransferTalk. Courtois naar Real? Het licht staat bijna op groen - Hazard nog te duur voor Barça - Spaanse interesse voor Batshuayi https://t.co/5ERMjylayO pic.twitter.com/U4Du6OSQNw
— HLN Sport (@hlnsport) July 14, 2018
The 26-year-old had a rumored €50m price tag on his head, but, according to HLN, Chelsea are apparently “willing to lower it” (perhaps as far as €35m?), especially now that Courtois has repeated his willingness to play out his final contract year at the Bridge without agreeing an extension and walking for free next summer instead.
I suppose this just might be the start of a farewell, Thibaut.
Chelsea and Real Madrid have been in touch over Thibaut Courtois in the last few weeks. No agreement over the fee as yet. #cfc #worldcup #bel #eng pic.twitter.com/zjz2Pdii1q
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) July 14, 2018