Why Thibaut Courtois Is a Dispensible Commodity in Chelsea's Rebuild

Rebuild. It's the buzzword that's already defining Chelsea's immediate future, and we've yet to finish the current campaign. For Antonio Conte to sufficiently follow through on that mandate, the Italian's going to need money—plenty of it.

This Chelsea squad may be—for the next few days at least—reigning Premier League champions, but they haven't looked like it at all this season. They were struggling even before a ball was kicked in anger, failing to win a single game in pre-season.

A lack of quality and depth has been Chelsea's undoing. Other factors have contributed to their demise, yet an overreliance on a few key players has been telling.

Without Diego Costa and Eden Hazard at their best for stages this season, Chelsea have looked devoid of inspiration and ideas. They've crumbled without them and are now paying the price.

Conte's task at Chelsea this summer will be to ensure those players are given more support in numbers. Chelsea's new boss needs to revitalise this squad by investing in creative talent, in the process continuing what Guus Hiddink has started in blooding more youth.

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It's why crazy rumours of record-breaking transfer fees make Thibaut Courtois a disposable commodity in all of it.

With his position among the world's leading goalkeepers, it seems an equally ludicrous suggestion, yet Chelsea stand to gain so much more without Courtois than if they fight to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

If Real Madrid offer Chelsea anything resembling the £79 million quoted in the Sun, it would be foolish to not bite Florentino Perez's hands off.

Having a world-class goalkeeper is one thing, but a porous defence and lack of substance in front of him makes Courtois redundant.

We've seen that this term. The Belgian has spent time on the sidelines injured, and in those three months he was missing, there wasn't much to separate Asmir Begovic and Courtois. Since his return in December, Courtois hasn't been the saviour Chelsea hoped he would be.

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Indeed, he's looked panicked at times. Courtois has conceded some sloppy goals, and that dominant figure we saw as Chelsea romped to the title just hasn't been there.

Does it make him a bad goalkeeper? Hardly, although his problems this season amplify the need for Chelsea to rebuild their defensive backbone. With Conte having to scour the transfer market this season to reinforce those vital attacking options, it's difficult to see how Chelsea are going to cope with investing in their defence at the same time.

They're going to have to do it the way most clubs do: Before they buy, Chelsea have to cash in on the value some of their players hold.

The club has done that to a certain degree with the £25 million they received from the sale of Ramires. Unless there are more trades east, those other fringe players aren't going to command anything near that.

Of all the first-team players Chelsea can afford to lose, Courtois is high on the list. Not only does he have a reputation that translates to mega-bucks, but goalkeepers aren't as key to success as many would make out.

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Take Arsenal this year. Arsene Wenger thought Petr Cech would be the answer to his club's woes, but here we are again in April, dissecting another failed title pursuit from the Gunners. That's 12 in a row now.

It hasn't been the goalkeeper that's been Arsenal's undoing, more the soft underbelly that continues to haunt them season after season. Wenger has never dealt with it properly, and Arsenal's failure has been repeated as a result.

Courtois isn't indispensable at Chelsea for the same reasons. This squad has bigger problems than whether or not they can rely on Begovic to be the No. 1 next season. If they're not addressed, it'll be another step on the road well-trodden by the likes of Arsenal and other clubs in the Premier League.

Chelsea shouldn't be actively seeking to sell Courtois this summer. If the right offers are made that strengthen Conte's war chest as he bids to evolve this squad, then the club needs to make the decision that will best serve the rebuilding that must be done.

They need Hazard, Costa and Cesc Fabregas. Chelsea can cope without Courtois.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes