Thibaut Courtois has been a key man for Real Madrid for a number of years but the Spanish giants have turned their attentions to English football for a long-term replacement
Real Madrid are turning their attention to the Premier League as they look to identify a successor to Thibaut Courtois, it has been claimed. The Belgian international has been a key figure in Los Blancos’ recent Champions League successes, but is now 33 and those at the club are believed to be considering a younger model.
The 2024 Champions League winners are expected to confirm Xabi Alonso as their new manager imminently following the Spaniard’s Bayer Leverkusen exit, but they haven’t slowed down on their transfer push. Trent Alexander-Arnold is on his way from Liverpool, and a new centre-back is also expected to join, with a new keeper completing the set.
According to The Sun, David Raya and Bart Verbruggen are the two Premier League men being considered, though neither would be easy to land. Raya is unlikely to be allowed to leave Arsenal without a fight, while Madrid’s reported plan for Brighton star Verbruggen might not suit the Dutch international.
The same publication indicates the Spanish club want to initially bring in Verbruggen as a backup to Courtois before later elevating to first choice. With Verbruggen currently the established first choice under Fabian Hurzeler, though, he may prefer to stay put – especially with 2026 being a World Cup year.
Andriy Lunin has been the back-up to Courtois of late, playing six of his team’s seven Champions League knockout games last season with his colleague out injured but losing his spot for the final. The Ukraine international could be made available for transfer this summer, having played just 60 first-team matches since joining the club in 2018.
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Verbruggen helped Brighton claim a valuable 2-0 win at Wolves on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of European qualification. Hurzeler’s team sit ninth – behind Brentford on goal difference only – and eighth place will be enough for Conference League qualification unless Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
“Very happy that the players showed this performance. They stuck to the plan and defended quite well,” manager Hurzeler told Match of the Day. “Second half, we defended quite well. In possession we could do it better, but I was happy to use the chance to score the second goal.”
Alonso’s other reported targets include Jonathan Tah, who could follow him in moving from Leverkusen. Former Real Madrid midfielder Alonso hasn’t been confirmed as the new boss at the Bernabeu, but his decision to leave the BayArena is now official.
“This week the club and I have agreed that these two games will be my last two games as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” Alonso said on Friday. “We have been talking during this week that is always about the moment and now is the right moment to announce it.
“We have always had a good and direct communication and now that we have clarity, it is the right moment to say that for sure. It is a moment with mixed emotions but it is the moment to announce it.”
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