Chelsea transfer news: Blues line-up Joe Hart bid in case Thibaut Courtois leaves for Real Madrid in the summer
According to Marca, the Torino keeper tops the Blues' list of replacements but will struggle to land him from parent club Manchester City
CHELSEA are lining up a shock bid for Joe Hart in case Thibaut Courtois leaves for Real Madrid, according to reports.
Courtois, 24, is a summer target for the Spanish giants after losing interest in Manchester United stopper David De Gea.
The Belgian international has seen a resurgence under Blues boss Antonio Conte to become one of the stand-out players of this Premier League season.
And, according to Marca, the Stamford Bridge club are preparing to make a move for on-loan Manchester City keeper Hart, 29.
The Torino and England No1 has got back to his best between the sticks after being ousted from the Etihad by boss Pep Guardiola.
But a deal could cost Chelsea as Guardiola does not want to sell to any of his rivals in England unless it is for a massive price.
The chance of Hart returning to City are also unlikely after his falling out with Guardiola at the start of this season.
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There were claims negotiations were under way between the Blues and Madrid for Courtois.
And he has never hid his ambition to move back to the city where he spent four-years on loan winning a La Liga title, the Europa League, Uefa Super Cup and a Copa del Rey.
He returned to the Blues in 2014, ousting the long-serving Petr Cech, and immediately established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
After a disappointing second season under Jose Mourinho, in which and most of his team-mates drastically under-performed, he has put in some of his finest displays.
And that has helped Chelsea rocket back to the top of the table and become favourites for the league title.
However, he has often been linked with a move back to La Liga and the chance of a return to Madrid — albeit with the ‘enemy’ — could be hard to turn down.