Courtois may leave Chelsea among potentially frantic transfers

LONDON: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois failed to report for training yesterday as doubts over his future at Stamford Bridge intensified.

Press Association Sport understands Courtois was absent from the Blues’ Cobham training base despite being due to make his return from a summer break.

The 26yearold, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, was handed an extended holiday after helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup, and has reportedly told new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri he wants to leave.

Courtois’ Belgian teammate, Eden Hazard, is also being linked with a move away from Chelsea, but Willian insists he is happy at the club despite revealing Barcelona made an approach for his services.

On what could be a frenetic final few days of the transfer window at Stamford Bridge, Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Jack Butland, of Stoke,

are the two goalkeepers being touted as successors to Courtois.

Manchester United continues to be

linked with a move for a central defender and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, of

Leicester, and Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng have all been linked with the Old Trafford club.

Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, is reported to be lining up a move for the United midfielder; Barcelona and Juventus are among the destinations mentioned in dispatches.

Everton is reported to have won the race to sign Brazil international Bernard after interest from Inter Milan and West Ham, and it has also been suggested the Toffees have reached an agreement for Barcelona centreback Yerry Mina.

Elsewhere, Newcastle announced the seasonlong loan signing of striker Salomon Rondon from West Brom.

BBC Sport reported Wolves, promoted as Championship winners last season, are close to breaking their transfer record to land Middlesbrough winger Adama Traore.

The decision to bring the deadline forward so that no new signings can be added after the premier league season begins, plus the World Cup, means the final days of the window could be frantic. — BPA