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.
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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”.
