Real Madrid are gearing up for an important part of the season as they look to keep pace with a flawless Barcelona team.
The club’s hierarchy, meanwhile, are hard at work trying to secure the future of existing stars after spending much of the summer trying to sign new players.
There are many contract renewals that are on the anvil, including the extension of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid reach agreement with Courtois
Courtois will sign a one-year contract. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have an agreement in place with Thibaut Courtois over his contract extension.
The Belgian’s current deal at Santiago Bernabeu expires at the end of the season, but the new deal will seal his future at the club for another year.
It will only be a one-year contract extension as Real Madrid’s policy does not allow veteran players to receive a contract renewal of more than a year. Cristiano Ronaldo was the only exception they had made.
Courtois, therefore, will get a one-year renewal, which will be then looked into next season. It is likely Real Madrid will want to continue with the Belgian, at least for the next couple of years.
What are the succession plans?
Courtois will continue at Real Madrid. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
At 34 years old, Courtois is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet, having performed consistently at Real Madrid ever since joining the club.
The former Chelsea keeper has been a part of Real Madrid’s success and brings experience in a squad desperately looking for some leadership.
Keeping that in mind, there are no immediate succession plans for Courtois at Real Madrid, though the club are actively looking into the market for young goalkeepers, who can replace the veteran in the near future.
One of the keepers Real Madrid are keeping an eye on is Guillaume Restes of Toulouse, who has shown immense potential in the Ligue 1.
Real Madrid also have Andriy Lunin, but it remains unlikely that he will be trusted as the only viable option to replace Courtois in the years to come, though he has been a fantastic deputy for the Belgian.