Chelsea Transfer News: Thibaut Courtois Contract Talks on Hold in Latest Rumours

Chelsea and their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have reportedly decided to put talks over a new contract on hold amid continued links to Real Madrid.

According to Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, with the Blues in the middle of a crucial point in the campaign—there are matches against Manchester City and Barcelona to come—both parties have conceded that delaying negotiations is a sensible option.

"Courtois revealed three weeks ago that more negotiations were going to take place in February, but with just one day of the month remaining, it is understood that hasn't been the case," Johnson continued.

In the piece, it's suggested the Premier League champions are ready to offer Courtois a weekly salary of £200,000 in an attempt to extend his deal at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian's current contract is poised to run out in the summer of 2019.

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Los Blancos are noted as possible suitors for the former Atletico Madrid man, with manager Zinedine Zidane said to be keen to improve his options between the sticks at the Santiago Bernabeu.

While rescheduling the talks shouldn't be a massive issue, when there's so little time left to run on Courtois' contract, any delay feels significant. Chelsea will not want to get into a position where the goalkeeper goes into the final year of his current term.

Losing him would leave the Blues with a lot of work to do in the transfer market. These figures from WhoScored.com sum up just how crucial Courtois is:

Of course, he's well protected by a strong defence and combative midfield, but when he's called upon, the 25-year-old rarely disappoints.

There are so many areas of goalkeeping in which he excels. In world football, there aren't many stoppers who can command their penalty area with an assurance and authority like Courtois carries. So frequently he's on hand to take pressure off his team-mates.

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Additionally, Courtois is capable of breathtaking saves. He uses his rangy somatotype and stunning reflexes to keep out shots that appear destined for the net; if he were to move to Madrid, he'd be an upgrade on the dependable Keylor Navas.

Chelsea appear intent on keeping Courtois around, though as noted by Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, some frustration at this impasse is beginning to surface given what the goalkeeper has been offered:

The situation is tough for Chelsea, as they face an uphill battle to make it into the next round of the UEFA Champions League having drawn the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-1 with Barcelona. The Blues are also in fifth place in the Premier League, meaning UEFA Europa League football might be on the agenda next term, too.

With that in mind, it may not make sense for Courtois to commit his future to the Blues currently, especially if he is keen on a move to Madrid. If Chelsea don't get an extension signed by the summer, it may be the trigger for a nervous transfer window at the Bridge.