Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Thibaut Courtois, Ruben Loftus-Cheek Exit Rumours

Chelsea’s next manager Antonio Conte will reportedly do his utmost to keep goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the club despite reported interest from Real Madrid.

That’s according to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, who has written that while the Blues have slapped a whopping £73 million valuation on him, the Italian, who will take over from Guus Hiddink in 2016-17, is a "big admirer" of the former Atletico Madrid stopper.

As noted by Johnson, there has been a lot of speculation about Courtois’ future lately, with the player himself fuelling the rumours by insisting he was unsure whether he’d be at the club next term.

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Bleacher Report’s Garry Hayes thinks that it’s critical Conte adds to his squad in the summer, not dismantle key areas:

"It has been suggested Conte is considering back-up keeper Asmir Begovic, who started his first League game for five months in the 1-0 loss at Swansea on Saturday, as Courtois’ replacement," added Johnson.

"However, Standard Sport understands this is not the case and should Courtois leave, Conte would sign another keeper."

At his best, Courtois is an authoritative and assuring influence on this Chelsea team. He’s a goalkeeper who seemed so at ease coming and claiming crosses last season, while his reflex stops and ability to claw shots away made him one of the top young players in world football. Indeed, few goalkeepers can measure up to him at full tilt.

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But like a lot of the Blues team this season, the Belgium international has disappointed. Granted, he missed a long spell due to injury, although since returning to the starting XI, the same unflappable aura that oozed from him in 2014-15 doesn’t seem to be as prevalent.

World Soccer Talk’s Amadi Tidiane Thiam commented on an increased unwillingness to come and take crosses from the 23-year-old recently:

"

Has Courtois decided never to catch again?

— amadí tídíane thiam (@amadoit2) April 2, 2016"

Conte will be hopeful of galvanising the player again next term, and as a manager who demands that his teams defend on the front foot, he’ll need an aggressive goalkeeper who fits in with that blueprint. Courtois can certainly fulfil that role once he gets over this recent lull, something that all young footballers endure.

Roma Want Ruben Loftus-Cheek

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According to Il Tempo (h/t Max Miller of Metro), Roma want Chelsea starlet Ruben Loftus-Cheek to head to the Italian capital as part of a deal that would see Radja Nainggolan move to Stamford Bridge.

Miller notes that Conte has "pinpointed Nainggolan as the man to strengthen Chelsea’s midfield when he arrives this summer," but according to Il Tempo, the Giallorossi will ask for Loftus-Cheek or Andreas Christensen, currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, in return.

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Roma are alleged to want £36.1 million for Nainggolan, with the Blues said to only be keen on parting with £28 million. Here are the qualities the Belgium international would add to the Blues midfield:

The rumbustious way in which the Roma man plays the game certainly seems to mesh well with English football. Nainggolan is a multifaceted footballer and, next to a natural holder like Nemanja Matic, could bring a box-to-box presence that has been lacking since the sale of Ramires.

But Chelsea shouldn’t entertain any thoughts of moving on Loftus-Cheek, who has turned in some impressive displays under Hiddink. He netted his first Premier League goal in a mature display at Aston Villa recently, per Squawka Football:

Indeed, it’s important for the Blues that a homegrown core is preserved, especially if long-term captain John Terry is to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Chelsea have a wonderful academy at their disposal, but the path from youth set-up into the first team is one that has hardly been trodden down the years. So, while Conte will inevitably seek to bring some illustrious names in, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the likes of Loftus-Cheek.