DESPERATE CHELSEA
Blues ready to pay RM470m for Oblak with Courtois forcing an exit
CHELSEA are ‘set to pay Jan Oblak’s £89 million (RM470 million) release clause’ in order to replace Thibaut Courtois before the start of the season.
The 26-year-old Belgium international Courtois was granted an extended rest after his country finished third at the World Cup, but he was scheduled to return to training following Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Courtois failed to turn up for training on Monday and has told the club he wants to move to Real Madrid, leaving Chelsea with little time to sign a new goalkeeper before the transfer window shuts on Thursday evening.
According to a report in Mundo Deportivo though, the Blues are set to raid Courtois’ former club Atletico Madrid for their star man Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian stopper has an £89 million release clause, but the Spanish paper writes that Chelsea will pay that in the next 24 hours as they look to push through the move.
It is understood that the Stamford Bridge outfit have turned to Oblak after moves for Alisson, Pepe Reina and Jordan Pickford fell through this summer.
Their three ‘more affordable’ options fell through after Alisson chose instead to move to Liverpool, while Reina opted to remain loyal to AC Milan, who have just paid £9 million to sign him.
Everton, meanwhile, asked for £58 million for Pickford, but Chelsea have now opted to spend more to ensure the arrival of one of the world’s best goalkeepers.
Oblak’s potential arrival in west London would likely ensure Courtois gets his way and secures a return to the Spanish capital, where his family live.
Courtois spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid after joining Chelsea back in 2011, impressing as the club won La Liga and the Europa League, before finishing runners up in the Champions League in 2014.
He has repeatedly stated his desire to move closer to his two children in the Spanish capital, and with just a year remaining on his contract Chelsea risk losing him for a reduced fee in January or for free next summer.
Eden Hazard, whose deal expires in 2020, has also long been the subject of speculation over a move to Real, but the forward was present at the club’s Cobham training base on Monday.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who replaced Antonio Conte last month, admitted on Friday he was unsure whether Courtois would stay.
“At the moment Courtois is the goalkeeper of the club, of Chelsea,” Sarri said. “I don’t know in the future. It depends on the club. It depends especially on him, I think.
“But, I hope that Courtois will be our goalkeeper. It’s very important for us to keep the top players.”