Courtois: Real Madrid bid to keep Chelsea on side, deny Willian talk

Events have taken place over the past day or so that have somewhat gone under the radar, but speak volumes for Real Madrid's desire to secure the summer signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

With time running out, Real don't want to endanger Chelsea relations

Real's pursuit of the Belgium international remains at an impasse as the LaLiga giants wait for Chelsea, who lost out to Liverpool in the race for Brazil's Alisson Becker, to find a replacement. And 9 August, the date on which the Premier League transfer window closes, is looming ever larger on the horizon...

Real are at pains to avoid being the subject of any media reports that could endanger the deal for Courtois and, this weekend, one such story appeared in the UK press with the potential to do just that, courtesy of the Daily Mail and the Mirror - who claimed that Los Blancos' sights are set not only on Courtois, but also his club-mate Willian Borges.

Real quick to make it known no truth in Willian claims

Nothing could be further from the truth. Real are only interested in Courtois, and yesterday were quick to nip the report in the bud. Were Chelsea to think that the Spaniards are making moves behind the Premier League club's back to secure the Brazilian's signature too, their hopes of doing business over Courtois could be scuppered.

The report could have come out of Willian's own camp, or, sources in London told AS, "even from one of those major intermediaries involved in every deal," in a bid to crystallise the thoughts of potential suitors. For example, the 29-year-old, who was a stand-out performer at the World Cup, is a target for Manchester United.

Real Madrid were not pleased at all to find themselves mixed up in speculation over Willian's future. Their target is Courtois, and the time to complete his signing is starting to run out.