Chelsea transfer news: Real Madrid to make decision on whether to sign Thibaut Courtois this month

REAL MADRID will make a decision on whether to lure Thibaut Courtois to Spain this month, according to reports.

The La Liga giants are desperate to sign a new goalkeeper, and have identified the Chelsea star as a possible target.

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According to the Telegraph, Madrid are close to clinching an agreement with Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

This would be brilliant news for Antonio Conte as he looks to tie the Belgian international down to a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

Courtois recently revealed he would be keen to head back to Spain due to personal issues.

His current contract expires in 2019, and it has been reported that the ex-Atletico Madrid ace has no interest in agreeing to a new deal.

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But despite his situation, Chelsea are refusing to sell their star man, and would rather let him go on a free transfer.

Conte last month urged the club to sort out a new contract for Courtois, claiming he is the “best goalkeeper in the world”.

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This has led Zinedine Zidane to target other potential players, with Arrizabalaga seemingly the man to dislodge Keylor Navas.

The 23-year-old will become a free agent in the summer, and Bilbao will reportedly let him leave the San Mames Stadium if they receive a fee of around £22million.

Arrizabalaga has been capped once by the Spanish international, and a move to Madrid could improve his chances of being included in La Furia Roja’s World Cup squad.

Juventus are another club monitoring the situation of Courtois, despite the Old Lady signing former Arsenal man Wojciech Szczesny in the summer.