Chelsea will risk losing Thibaut Courtois on a free transfer if they are unable to recruit a replacement for the wantaway goalkeeper by August 9.Courtois has made it clear to Chelsea that he wants to leave this summer, with Real Madrid in pursuit.
The 26-year-old stopper has just under 12 months left to run on his current contract and is not intending to extend it, meaning Chelsea would be unable to command a transfer fee were he to leave next summer.
Chelsea have reluctantly become open to the idea of selling Courtois before this month’s transfer deadline, but only if they can first source a new No 1.
The Blues signed former England keeper Rob Green, 38, last month, but he arrived to play a back-up role and is not considered good enough to be first choice.
Chelsea had been linked with Alisson earlier this summer, but the Brazilian joined Liverpool in a £65million world-record deal for a goalkeeper.
Leicester’s Danish No 1 Kasper Schmeichel and Everton’s England star Jordan Pickford remain on Chelsea’s radar.
Courtois has yet to return to Chelsea this summer, having been granted extra time off after featuring in all seven of Belgium’s games at the World Cup in June and July.
In his absence, Chelsea deployed teenager Marcin Bulka in goal for their 1-0 win over Perth Glory and the first half of their game against Inter Milan in Nice, with Willy Caballero coming on for the second period.