Chelsea supporters in the Football Transfer Tavern will be happy with how their team’s season is going, as they currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
But they might be slightly concerned at what could happen to their squad during the summer.
Of course, star striker and top goalscorer Diego Costa has been heavily linked with a big-money move to China during the January transfer window, and now rumours are circulating that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has his eyes on a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid at the end of the campaign – Blues supporters standing at the bar would certainly be worried about losing two players that make up the spine of the side.
The potential exit of the 24-year-old would be a big blow for manager Antonio Conte, with the Belgian widely regarded to be one of the best stoppers in the English top flight alongside the likes of Manchester United’s David De Gea and Tottenham Hotspur’s Hugo Lloris.
If he did leave Stamford Bridge, Conte would need to bring in another world-class goalkeeper who would be ready to be the club’s number one straight away – any ideas, landlord?
Here are THREE replacements for Courtois if he does depart Chelsea…
Gianluigi Donnarumma
The 17-year-old has shown just how good he is by the fact that he is already AC Milan’s first-choice goalkeeper – he has already made more than 50 appearances for the Serie A giants despite his tender years – even the landlord is impressed with this guy!
Chelsea’s Italian boss Antonio Conte will certainly know Donnarumma well, and standing at 6’5″ tall, he would certainly replace the aerial presence that Courtois has brought between the sticks for the Blues, which would please the punters in the tavern.
When Donnarumma does leave Milan there will be an almighty scramble for his signature, but the west London outfit certainly have the funds to blow their rivals out of the water – the supporters standing at the bar will be calling for Abramovich to get his chequebook out again.
Hugo Lloris
If you lose the best, you want to replace with the best and despite being fierce rivals, Chelsea would surely be taking a close look at Tottenham’s Lloris if Courtois ended up moving on to pastures new – it could be a controversial move for the Blues punters at the bar though.
As mentioned previously, the France international has proved over the last few seasons that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League – if not the world – and at 30 years of age he still has plenty of years at the top level left in him – the landlord at the tavern would certainly love to get one over on Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Of course, the main problem would be that Spurs wouldn’t want to sell to their London neighbours, but if the fee was big enough, their hand could be forced.
Jack Butland
Until suffering a season-ending injury while playing for England last March, Butland had been an ever-present in goal for Stoke City in the Premier League during the 2015/16 campaign, and would have impressed many of his suitors – this is definitely an addition that would please the supporters standing at the bar.
The 23-year-old put in plenty of man-of-the-match displays and despite missing the last seven top flight matches of the season, he still won the Potters’ Player of the Year award.
Standing at 6’5″ tall and with the best years of his career still ahead of him, Antonio Conte could do a lot worse than take a look at the Three Lions stopper, who would count towards the homegrown quota too, should Courtois depart Stamford Bridge – well, the landlord is convinced anyway.
Do you agree, Chelsea fans? Let us know below.
