When Chelsea were supposedly linked with a move for Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland, many a Blues fan were perplexed as to why they would be moving for another ‘keeper with Petr Cech in the form he is this season.
Granted, his backup – the footballing equivalant of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum; Hilario and Ross Turnball – are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in between the sticks, but the west London side already possess a goalkeeper worthy of succeeding the Czech Republic international on their books.
Thibaut Courtois may’ve spent the last 18 months on loan at Atletico Madrid in order to garner further first team experience, but that isn’t to say he will be shipped out of Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
Some reports suggest that the Belgian has been offered to Los Rojiblancos as part of a deal that would see Radamel Falcao move in the opposite direction, speculation that has proven to be dumbfounded following the remarks made by the young shotstopper insisting that he’s been told by Chelsea that he’ll be replacing Cech as the club’s number one in 24 months time.
The quotes from Courtois hint that Chelsea are in no mood to be spelling one of their young prized assets, which can only be a good thing for the club. The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the best goalkeepers on the continent in recent months and despite Petr Cech being just 30 years of age, in two years time the Belgium number one may have usurped him at Stamford Bridge and emerged a the club’s number one in the process.