Chelsea news: Thibaut Courtois tells Blues to make him huge new offer after World Cup displays
Belgian is clearly unhappy with the £200,000-a-week offer that was placed on the table in December
THIBAUT COURTOIS has told Chelsea to make him a massive new offer after his impressive World Cup with Belgium.
The keeper is clearly unhappy with the £200,000-a-week offer that has been on the table at Stamford Bridge since December but he has refused to sign.
Now, after Eden Hazard rocked Chelsea with the news he wants to quit, Courtois, 26, has waded in.
New boss Maurizio Sarri has only just been appointed as Blues manager and he clearly has plenty of issues to deal with.
Courtois also revealed that all the Chelsea players were told by the board at the end of last season that Antonio Conte was definitely being sacked even though he only went on Friday.
Asked if he expects to remain a Chelsea player, Courtois, who joined the club in 2011, said: “I will be coming back, for sure, and I will see what they want - and how they say it.
“Obviously with what has happened at the World Cup, I think what was on the table is different than what I can have, maybe. In this World Cup, I have ignored all the speculation, all the rumours.
“But now in the next few days I will have a chat with my agent and see what Chelsea have told him and then we can talk. But I feel happy at Chelsea, it’s not that I necessarily want to leave.”
Courtois has proved to be arguably the best keeper in Russia.
He added: “I’m very happy with the team performance and I’m very happy with my own performances. I know this is my level, despite people calling me a bad goalkeeper but I think I proved a lot of people wrong and I know this is my level.”
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Asked to explain his comments about being a bad keeper, despite praise in Russia, he clarified that he meant at Chelsea last season.
He added: “You know what I mean. Sometimes during a season, you can have bad luck. I remember at one time, I had made only a 50 per cent saving rate but that’s maybe because some goals are unsavable and people go too much blind on statistics, but this tournament I really felt well.
“The last one and-a-half-month at Chelsea, I performed at a high level and I felt I took this form with me and had a really good World Cup. To call me the best in the world, I don’t know. Jordan (Pickford) made some good saves against Sweden and Colombia, and Lloris made against us a very good one and also against Uruguay.
“I don’t think you can decide on the amount of saves, I think if you did then I exceed everyone. But sometimes it’s just that one save that does it. The keeper I mentioned, Subasic as well, maybe all four were on a high level. That’s how you take a team to the highest level.”
Discussing Conte's drawn-out departure from Chelsea, Courtois explained: “I think as a group we expected that to happen a longer time ago because we heard what the board said to us already after the season - but it took until now.
“I don’t think it’s easy for a new manager to come in and shape us in a few weeks. I think fans need to understand we will need some time to adapt to the new manager and a different style. I know Dries Mertens and he told me really well about Sarri, so I’m looking forward to coming back and winning some prizes.”
Less than 24 hours after Maurizio Sarri was appointed as manager, Hazard rocked the club.
Speaking after the 2-0 win over England, he said: “After six wonderful years at Chelsea, it might be time to discover something different.
“Certainly after this World Cup. I can decide if I want to stay or go. Chelsea will make the final decision - if they want to let me go. You know my preferred destination.”