Barcelona are interested in Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as a replacement for current goalkeeper Victor Valdes who is set to leave the Spanish outfit at the end of this season.
Courtois has yet to make a first team appearance at Chelsea but is now starting his third season on loan at Spanish club Atletico Madrid. He has made 103 appearances for them and is the established starter both for Madrid and for his Country. He has won the Europa League, Super Cup and Copa del Rey with Madrid.
Courtois is only 21 years old and has established himself as Belgium’s number one goalkeeper.
Valdes is set to leave Barcelona at the end of this season on a free transfer and the Spanish giants are looking for a long term replacement and they see Courtois as their number one target. At just 21 he could have two decades as Barcelona’s keeper and this interests them.
With Courtois as their first option, Barcelona also like the look of Borussia Mochengladbach keeper Ter Stegen who recently turned down a contract extension at the German club.
Courtois will be extremely hard to get as Chelsea regard him very highly and see him as the natural successor to current first choice keeper Petr Cech, a hefty fee would have to come in for the London based club to let him move on.
James Moss – @JMoss_13
