Courtois: Clock ticking for Cech at Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois claims Chelsea plan to bring him back to the club within two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Thibaut Courtois claims Chelsea plan to bring him back to the club within two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Courtois completed his moved to Chelsea from Genk in 2011, but was sent out on loan to Atletico Madrid after David de Gea departed the La Liga side to join Manchester United.

Courtois, 20, has since established himself as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe, prompting rumours of interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico.

However, Courtois has confirmed Chelsea intend to keep hold of him and bring him back to Stamford Bridge in the near future.

He told the London Evening Standard: “Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and I think I am an up and coming young talent with the quality maybe also to play for Chelsea.

“They will continue with Cech for two more years, I believe.

“The problem is I think that Chelsea didn’t expect me to be at this level this soon. I’ve developed really quickly. It’s a very good situation for Chelsea.”

The Belgium international also played down reports he could be used in a deal to bring Atletico striker Radamel Falcao to Chelsea, adding: “A lot of things the press say are nonsense. They are guessing.

“They know Chelsea want Falcao but Chelsea have told me, ‘The last thing we want to do is sell you’. Maybe they are lying to me but I don’t think so.

“It was strange joining Chelsea but when I signed for them I knew I would be loaned out to a team. They had a five-year plan for me.

“I only went to Chelsea to take my medical. I then went straight to Atletico and had a good year so I preferred to stay for another year.”