Its great to see Courtois finally pushing on and he as upped his game, I wonder how much of that is down to the new GK coack, Gianluca Spinelli, Conte was bullish in wanting him to come in, so much so that Christophe Lollichon (sp) has been dropped by Chelsea and it was reported last year that himself and Courtois didnt exactly get on, so far as Courtois had questionned his coaching methods.

Whatever it is, Courtois is back to a level where he should be and hes still got scope for improvement, his distribution is also miles better than last year and while hes not Neuer, hes much more inclicned to get invovled in the build up instead of lumping it up the field to nobody.

I'm still in awe of that final save! Simply phenomenal.

Not sure if it is just made up news to fill in the sport newspapers during the Xmas break in the Spanish Liga, but there are reports in As and Marca about Real Madrid gearing up to come for Courtois for next season. I hope it doesn't happen but if he wants to go we need a plan B.

New contract, blank cheque, £150m release clause, go!!!!!

One problem there, according to As, Courtois has rejected a contract renewal offered by Chelsea... But as I say, this could just be rumours to fill in during the holiday break.

According to AS, who are Madrid's mouthpiece and spread bullsh*t on their behalf. I would take that with a huge pinch of salt, massive pinch.

The club should take the financial hit and keep Tibbles till the end of his contract in 2018, by then Real's supposed interest may disappear anyway. No sense in selling just to invest the money in a keeper who will probably be inferior. Or we could just do a swap deal with Atleti for Oblak...

Classic tap up merchants in operation...chelsea need to sort out new deal for Thibaut very quickly..,he's said many times how he wants to go back to Spain one day and let's be honest, Real Madrid are a very hard club to turn down for any player...mind you the fee I've seen quoted is laughable...£25m..,hahahhahaha..double it for starters...

Edited December 22, 20169 yr by The Brit

That's how Madrid sign players, cook up the media rumours, hold talks with player's agent, followed by their owner players saying - would be nice to have XX coming in, he'd be stupid not to. We need to sort out his contract soon, but I don't think we are at the panic stage yet.

Not for sale, end of story. We cannot let him go until we have a top class replacement, just like with Petr and Carlo previously.

If Jose was in charge I would say done deal but with Conte in charge it's a different story

why do madrid want him? their current keeper is quality. 

Former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is on course for a permanent move to Real Madrid. The Belgian international has made clear his desire to return to LaLiga and is said to have already notified friends and Chelsea teammates of his impending summer switch to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. MARCA sources suggest that he will return to Madrid, where he enjoyed a happy loan spell with Atletico and met his current partner.  http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2016/12/22/585bcf8b468aebbc758b4609.html

 

i like to say this is just completely bogus by the usual garbage spanish media, only one day after madrid's transfer ban was reduced and suddenly it's a done deal for a world class player, but knowing thibo love for spain and his inability to keep his mouth shut. you never know

I actually wouldn't be massively worried if he left, don't get me wrong I would rather keep him but there are more good goalkeepers out there than ever.

He's fond of Atletico, isn't he? I'd be a little surprised if he went to their hated rivals. 

Wouldn't surprise me.

Real has already started courting him last season, when he got injured he received a 'get well soon' fax from Madrid. Sly w**kers.

Losing Courtois would be a tragedy for me.

I don't think we would have racked up 11 wins in a row right now with any other goalkeeper. Selling our best players should be out of the question and Thibaut is absolutely vital to our success so really hope he stays.

3 hours ago, Sindre said:

Losing Courtois would be a tragedy for me.

I don't think we would have racked up 11 wins in a row right now with any other goalkeeper. Selling our best players should be out of the question and Thibaut is absolutely vital to our success so really hope he stays.

Can't see it mate, he keeps talking about going back to Spain. Shame he couldn't be more like Cech.

6 hours ago, havelschayes said:

Former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is on course for a permanent move to Real Madrid. The Belgian international has made clear his desire to return to LaLiga and is said to have already notified friends and Chelsea teammates of his impending summer switch to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. MARCA sources suggest that he will return to Madrid, where he enjoyed a happy loan spell with Atletico and met his current partner.  http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2016/12/22/585bcf8b468aebbc758b4609.html

 

i like to say this is just completely bogus by the usual garbage spanish media, only one day after madrid's transfer ban was reduced and suddenly it's a done deal for a world class player, but knowing thibo love for spain and his inability to keep his mouth shut. you never know

Like it was his decision if Chelsea sells or not :) Total garbage from Marca.

RM are a vile club from top to bottom; this is simply a tapping up exercise that is about as subtle as a phone directory smashed over the side of the head.

5 hours ago, Sindre said:

Losing Courtois would be a tragedy for me.

I don't think we would have racked up 11 wins in a row right now with any other goalkeeper. Selling our best players should be out of the question and Thibaut is absolutely vital to our success so really hope he stays.

 

Maybe but I don't think he had a lot to do in the past 11 games.. Only 2 or 3 games where I acknowledge that he made a difference..

 

His fond of spain is genuine so gotta respect that..

4 minutes ago, 1905 said:

RM are a vile club from top to bottom; this is simply a tapping up exercise that is about as subtle as a phone directory smashed over the side of the head.

Just a question, since we're living in the 21st century, what made you think that this kind of exercise hadn't already been executed on a daily basis? Just a private phone call away.. It's not that difficult to get his number, is it?

1 hour ago, bola said:

 

Maybe but I don't think he had a lot to do in the past 11 games.. Only 2 or 3 games where I acknowledge that he made a difference..

 

His fond of spain is genuine so gotta respect that..

That is a sign of how good he is that he can be unneeded for so long and still make the difference. The reason United have dropped a lot of points being the better side is because De Gea is weak at that element of the game.

That is a sign of how good he is that he can be unneeded for so long and still make the difference. The reason United have dropped a lot of points being the better side is because De Gea is weak at that element of the game.

[emoji3] Please stop comparing DeGea with Courtois in any way. Don't let start that debate all over again because of a rumour.

Word is he is up for some extra money soon in exchange for a contract extension. 

That's the right way to deal with Real! No way are they getting our best players!