Thibaut Courtois Chelsea contract talks shelved until the summer – as keeper’s camp dismiss claims of secret PSG meeting
Claims on Belgian TV suggested Courtois and his father held two-hour talks with PSG officials in London but agent insists no meeting took place
THIBAUT COURTOIS’ contract talks with Chelsea have been shelved until the summer – as his camp deny he has held a secret meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.
Courtois had been due to sit down with Stamford Bridge bosses last month to thrash out a new long-term deal with the club amid interest from Real Madrid.
But SunSport understands no discussions will now be held until the current season has finished, leading to fresh doubt over his future with Chelsea.
Those doubts grew when Belgian TV station RTBF claimed the 25-year-old goalkeeper and his father Thierry met PSG representatives on Monday for informal talks.
But Courtois’ agent Christophe Henrotay insists no such meeting, which would have been without the knowledge of Chelsea, took place.
Henrotay said: “I have never heard of that meeting.
“If any club is interested they know what they have to do – find a deal with Chelsea and then talk to me to check my client interest.
“RTBF is a small TV channel in Belgium and sometimes they like a little thrill to keep them alive. But their information is not correct.”
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Courtois works closely with Henrotay as his adivser, so it is unlikely any meetings would be held without the businessman present.
And Henrotay has been in China since last week finalising the deal that saw Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco join Dalian Yifang in a £26million deal.
Courtois is under contract with Chelsea until the end of next season, but has so far stalled on committing his long-term future to Stamford Bridge.
Spanish giants Real Madrid have made little secret of their interest in the Belgium star as they line up a possible £50m bid for him in the summer.
And Chelsea know they would face a decision on whether to cash in on him over the close season or risk seeing him leave on a free transfer next year.
But there is a feeling within the club that they would rather the player concentrates on helping the side push for a top four finish than be distracted by contract talks.
Courtois this week risked upsetting manager Antonio Conte when he questioned the decision to substitute Eden Hazard in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last week.