Real Madrid’s interest in Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea looks to have finally faded away and they are now plotting a move for Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois, reports The Independent.
Real Madrid have fallen way behind runaway leaders Barcelona in this season’s La Liga despite comprehensively winning the division last season. One of Madrid’s biggest downfalls this season has been their defensive record; 23 goals conceded in 22 league games has seen lower-positioned sides gain points against the 12-times European champions, and it seems Los Blancos seek a new goalkeeper in an attempt to challenge Barcelona again next season.
Madrid have been chasing David de Gea for some time and infamously missed out on the Spaniard in 2015 after an issue with the tax machine caused the deal to fall through. Now, it seems Courtois is the number one target for Zinedine Zidane and it’s thought that a sum of £100m could be coughed up to secure the signing of the Belgian. With the 25-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of the season, the former Atletico Madrid loanee may fancy life back in Spain.
£100m would smash the current world-record fee for a goalkeeper, which stands at £34.7m, the amount Manchester City paid Benfica for Ederson last summer.
Courtois and his teammates will be putting these rumours behind them for now, ahead of their must-win game against relegation-feared West Bromwich Albion.
