Chelsea transfer news: Jack Butland, Thibaut Courtois, Leon Bailey
Stoke goalkeeper Butland lined up to replace Real Madrid-bound Courtois

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Butland for the Blues?
Chelsea are resigned to losing Thibaut Courtois in the next week, claims Sky Sports, but the broadcaster says the Blues won’t allow him to leave Stamford Bridge before they have signed a replacement.
So who might that be? Sky Sports says England No.1 Jordan Pickford is top of their wishlist but it’s unlikely that ambitious Everton will countenance letting him go.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That leaves either Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester or Stoke City’s Jack Butland, currently Pickford’s deputy in the England squad.
Sky Sports state that Butland’s international “aspirations” are such that he knows he must move to a Premier League club before the start of the season or see himself drop even further down the pecking order in the Championship.
£30m for Butland
In backing up Sky Sports’ claim, the Daily Mirror says that the 25-year-old Butland “is expected to cost in the region of £30m if Stoke are to cash in”.
Not that Potters’ boss Gary Rowett wants to lose his keeper but economic realism is likely to force Stoke’s hand if Chelsea table a bid that meets their asking price.
“I hope he stays,” Rowett told BBC Radio. “I’m also pragmatic enough to know it’s football and anything can happen in the last few days of the window.”
Asked if Chelsea had been in touch, Rowett replied: “We haven’t had an offer which the club feel is financially viable - or I don’t think any strong offer yet.”
Courtois is Real’s No.1 choice
Spanish newspaper Marca reported yesterday that Real’s interest in Chelsea and Belgium keeper Courtois “remains firm and genuine”.
Marca’s Santiago Siguero writes: “Real Madrid are still waiting for Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation to be resolved before putting the final steps in place in their bid for Courtois, one of their biggest transfer targets.
“It is hoped at Real that they can complete the signing of the goalkeeper, whose contract expires in June 2019.”
Big money for Bailey
Bayer Leverkusen have told Chelsea to “forget about signing Leon Bailey this summer”, claims talkSPORT.
The Jamaican winger has taken Germany by storm since joining from Belgian side Genk in January last year and, according to talkSPORT, the Blues “have been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old over the last few months”.
An offer is pending from both Chelsea and Roma, according to reports in Germany, but Leverkusen have “categorically ruled out” any sale this summer.
Will that deter Chelsea? Probably not, with talkSPORT claiming that “a bid of around £45m could reportedly tempt Bayer into changing their stance”.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
What to know when filing a hurricane insurance claim
The Explainer A step-by-step to figure out what insurance will cover and what else you can do beyond filing a claim
By Becca Stanek Published
-
How fees impact your investment portfolio — and how to save on them
The Explainer Even seemingly small fees can take a big bite out of returns
By Becca Stanek Published
-
Enemy without
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published
-
Can Arsenal really win the Premier League title?
feature How the pundits reacted after the Gunners’ late 3-2 victory over Man Utd
By Mike Starling Published
-
Premier League festive fixtures to cause travel ‘chaos’ for football fans
feature English top-flight has confirmed the schedule for Boxing Day and New Year games
By Mike Starling Published