Chelsea Transfer News: Raphael Varane Swoop, Thibaut Courtois to Madrid Rumours

Chelsea and Real Madrid could effectively be about to swap players, with separate rumours the clubs will purchase star talent from one another.

It has been reported the Blues will move for French international Raphael Varane in the next window, with Los Blancos to make a shock bid for Thibaut Courtois. 

Tony Banks of the Express says Jose Mourinho will move for Varane, with the Chelsea manager viewing the player as one of the top defenders on the planet.

It was only last season the Special One lauded Varane whist speaking to Yahoo, per Sky Sports, saying: "I think he is the best young central defender in the world. Already I think he's the best."

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Varane will cost Chelsea in the region of £35 million, per Banks, with the player said to have come close to making the switch to London in the January transfer window.

Banks says Mourinho believes purchasing a "player of the quality of Varane would move his squad onto another level even if they win the league," and the Blues coach will go back to Madrid to capture the player he once coached at the Bernabeu. 

However, Los Blancos have their eye on the Stamford Bridge outfit's top-class goalkeeper Courtois, as they look for a long-term stopper for their defence.

The time of Iker Casillas is coming to the end in the Spanish capital, and Fichajes.net (in Spanish) believe Carlo Ancelotti wants the former Atletico Madrid star, as reported by Lewis Rudd of Metro.

Rudd says Casillas' poor performance in the Madrid derby could speed up Ancelotti's search for a new 'keeper, with the La Decima Champions League winners knowing all about Courtois' qualities.

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Courtois has had a good start to life in the Premier League, always looking strongly assured in his play and technical ability. 

He has suffered a hiccup in recent games with a very slight dip in his form but has achieved seven clean sheets in his 21 EPL games, per Squawka.com.

Casillas is said to be upset at being the "scapegoat" for Los Blancos, with Julio Pulido, editor of Spanish football show Deportes Cuatro, sympathising with the legendary 'keeper, per Football Espana via Eurosport:

"

Casillas could’ve done more than he did with the first goal [against Atletico Madrid], no doubt. That said, what’s happening is that Iker has become tired of being blamed for Real Madrid’s defeats. [It seems] the fans are only focused on defeats.

"

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It will be interesting to see what happens next summer, but it is debatable whether either player will leave their current clubs.

Varane is the more likely of the two to move, as he is down the pecking order at Madrid and would be attracted to first-team football at Stamford Bridge.

Courtois is already one of the best in the world, and the only way Mourinho would allow him to go is for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper and if he still has long-term faith in Petr Cech.

Chelsea need a player like Varane as John Terry's days come to an end. He would give the Blues the world-class outlook they need in defence, and he could become a leader for Mourinho on the pitch.