Top five short-term Thibaut Courtois replacements at Real Madrid

Madrid’s significant options to replace the Belgian as a part-time goalkeeper

Real Madrid may consider signing a new goalkeeper after the serious injury suffered by Thibaut Courtois, Ancelotti is scouting goalkeepers who can replace their number one choice goalkeeper. Courtois suffered an ACL injury in the training, he will miss atleast 6 months of professional football.

Courtois has been a key player in helping Madrid win a Champions League, two Spanish leagues and a Copa Del Rey. He has played 230 times for the Spanish club, since joining from Chelsea in 2018. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now thanks to his ability to make high-pressure saves. 

Club’s manager says his starter heading into the new season will be the little used Andriy Lunin, even though he has made it clear, he is still looking to sign a new goalkeeper.

There are five likely replacements that can replace the Belgian in goal:

5. Giorgi Mamardashvili

Valencia goalkeeper joined the club in 2022, the 22-year-old goalkeeper from Georgia is Valencia’s number one man to protect the goal. The young goalkeeper is a modern day ball playing goalie who likes to play along with his defense and has the ability to make passes. He played all the 38 matches in LaLiga in the 2022-23 season, he kept 7 clean sheets in the entire LaLiga season.

He has been targeted by Bayern and now Real Madrid are looking to acquire the Georgian goalkeeper in order to replace Courtois in goal. He is listed in the top five U-25 goalkeepers in the world, there is room for improvement looking at his age and Madrid can certainly provide that experience to the young goalkeeper.

4. Illan Meslier

Meslier has been one of best Leeds standout players in recent years. The 23-year-old French goalkeeper tried his best to avoid relegation from the Premier League but he came under intense scrutiny as they were relegated to the second tier of English football. The LaLiga giants are eyeing a move for Leeds Meslier to replace Courtois.

It looks like he might not remain at Leeds United for much longer. His three years in the Premier League were enough to catch the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs. Meslier could be a solid addition to this Real Madrid side and can emerge as the best young goalkeeper under Ancelotti. Considering his potential, there are other Premier League clubs as well looking to sign the Frenchman. At Madrid, he can learn from world-class players and get a chance to play in the Champions League, establishing himself as goalkeeper to watch in Europe.

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3. Yassine Bounou 

Yassine Bounou has arguably been one of the best in the world over the last two seasons, coming up big in crucial moments. He helped Sevilla to a record-breaking seventh Europa League title when they beat Roma in the finals. The Moroccan saved crucial penalties in the final, he had one of the best performances in the final by any goalkeeper.

Jose Luis Mendilibar is willing to stick with Marko Dmitrovic in goal, and thus Bounou would theoretically be available for Madrid. Yassine Bounou has been heavily linked with an exit, as one of their saleable assets to raise money, he is one of the most integral part of the squad and will definitely provide the depth in Madrid’s squad that they are looking for in this summer transfer.

2. Kepa Arrizabalaga

Courtois’s timetable to a return to full fitness and match time is uncertain. He was formerly thought to be a target for Los Blancos before joining Chelsea from Athletic Club making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. Real Madrid have reportedly joined Bayern Munich in the race to sign him this summer after both the clubs struggling with their goalkeepers.

After Mendy’s exit this summer window, Chelsea have signed another Spaniard Roberto Sanchez from Brighton. Despite all the interest from top European clubs, Pochettino has advised Kepa to stay in the club and fight for the number one choice heading into the coming season.

1. David de Gea

Sitting atop the wishlist is the venerable David de Gea, an unbound titan following his departure from the hallowed grounds of Manchester United in the recent summer. The 32-year-old custodian emerges as a veritable sentinel of the goalposts and is a man that Real Madrid should go after before the summer transfer ends.

The Spanish veteran keeper is perhaps the most logical, given he is experienced and at a high level, as well as a cheap option for Madrid considering the list of players mentioned above. De Gea after spending more than a decade in England is without a club until now and going to Spain is an option that would suit both the parties.

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