By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has reportedly refused a new contract with the club and has instead “offered himself” to Spanish Giants Real Madrid.
Together with Manchester United counterpart David de Gea, the 25-year-old has been a long-term target for the Spanish giants as they eye a new number one to replace Keylor Navas.
Courtois still has 18 months remaining on his current contract with the Blues and is said to be demanding the club to double his weekly wage of £100,000 under any new deal, a figure that the club has been reluctant to meet.
According to Guillem Balague in AS, Courtois has now told Madrid that he wants to join the club and has encouraged them to make an offer for his services.
The Belgian’s children already live in the Spanish capital and he is said to have admitted that it would be “a dream” to return, having spent three seasons with Atletico Madrid before moving to London.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is said to be eyeing Sevilla stopper Sergio Rico as Courtois’s potential replacement.