Chelsea considering shock move for Stoke City star
Chelsea may be looking for a new keeper
Antonio Conte is fond of looking outside the Premier League for his new stars, but the Chelsea boss’ next big move may be within England’s top flight. The former Italy boss is eyeing a shock move for Stoke City’s most talented player.
The latest target of Conte’s affections is England keeper Jack Butland. The Stoke star has cemented his place in his country’s squad ahead of the 2018 World Cup and is starring for his club as well. His brilliant run of form has caught the eye of Conte.
Of course, Thibaut Courtois currently patrols the net for the Blues. Unfortunately, officials at Stamford Bridge are becoming increasingly worried about his unwillingness to sign a new deal with Chelsea. Rumours of Courtois making a sensational return to Spain simply won’t go away.
For what it’s worth, Courtois claims he isn’t thinking about his future at the time being. Instead, he prefers to focus all of his attention on Chelsea’s current run of games. Time will tell whether or not that’s a genuine reason for his failure to engage the club in contract talks.
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If Chelsea are forced to look elsewhere, Butland would be at the top of their list. That doesn’t mean Stoke City are going to let him go on the cheap though. English reports claim the Potters would look for a transfer fee of at least £30 million. Stoke officials would want to receive a deal eclipsing the fee Sunderland received for Jordan Pickford last summer.
With all due respect to Butland, swapping him for Courtois would still be a significant risk for Conte. He prides himself on building the best defense in England, and having the towering Belgian in goal is a big factor in that strategy. Butland is an excellent keeper in his own right, but he lacks the physical gifts that make Courtois so imposing.
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The smart money still backs Chelsea to keep Courtois for the long haul, but Conte isn’t going to be caught without a top-notch shot stopper. If the Belgian does exit England, look for the Blues to rob Stoke City of their biggest star.