Chelsea offer to make Thibaut Courtois highest-paid goalkeeper in world… but eye Jack Butland if he leaves
Belgian has just 18 months to run on his £100k-a-week deal but has been offered terms that would double his money
CHELSEA have reportedly offered to make Thibaut Courtois the best-paid keeper on the planet.
The Blues are said to be increasingly confident that the Belgian will pen a fresh contract until 2023.
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Courtois has just 18 months to run on his current £100,000-a-week deal.
But The Telegraph report that fresh terms are on the table worth £200,000 a week - with Stoke's Jack Butland eyed in case talks grind to a halt.
Those figures include bonuses and would take the Belgian, 25, past Manchester United David De Gea's as the highest earning keeper in the world.
As revealed by SunSport, Blues would rather let Courtois go for FREE instead of selling him this summer.
The Prem champs would be willing to let him run down his contract rather than cashing in early.
Real Madrid are interested in the 25-year-old as a long-term successor to Keylor Navas at the Bernabeu.
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Courtois played for rivals Atletico on loan for three seasons and returning to the Spanish capital as No1 for Real is considered a dream move for keepers.
David De Gea is also on their radar and Manchester United understand the appeal of Real to Spanish players.
Blues hope that Real's interest Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga means they are resigned to not landing Courtois.
However, Courtois has spoken of his desire for a return to Spain.
He has admitted: "I love my children to death. When you miss them, you are sometimes wondering – shouldn’t I play in Spain in the next few years?
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"That’s why I want to take time to decide how many years I want to sign up. When I sign, I want to tell Chelsea that I have been here for so many years because I am happy here.
"I like playing here, it’s a nice city, but of course I’m thinking about my private situation. I do not see any reason why I shouldn’t sign, but I just want to take my time with everything.
"I think I will have an agreement with Chelsea before the season ends."
