Thibaut Courtois is poised to double his money with new Chelsea deal

Chelsea are on the verge of agreeing a five-year contract with Thibaut Courtois.

Standard Sport understands negotiations are close to being concluded and that it is only the salary which is causing a delay with the goalkeeper wanting to more than double his wages.

The Belgium No1 is yet to play for Chelsea since joining from Genk for £7m in 2011 and is on a third successive season’s loan at Atletico Madrid.

But the 21-year-old has developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has just over two years left on his deal, which is believed to be worth around £30,000-a-week.

Chelsea are determined to secure Courtois on a deal until 2019 and talks have been ongoing for some time, with executive board member Marina Granovskaia overseeing the matter since last month.

Courtois wanted assurances that he will get the opportunity to compete with Petr Cech for the No1 spot if he returns to Stamford Bridge. That is believed to have been promised but, to reflect his rise in the game, he also wants a sizeable wage rise.

Courtois admitted last week he is close to making an announcement on his future and Atletico are resigned to him signing a new contract at Chelsea, although they still hope he might come back for another loan next term.

However, Antonio Sanz, the agent of Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, has made some extraordinary claims that manager Jose Mourinho has told the Chelsea board he wants him to replace Cech as first choice next season.

Writing in his column in El Confidencial, he said: “The coach, very displeased with the performances of the Czech goalkeeper in the key matches of the season, has made it clear to the Chelsea directors that it is a moment for change. That they cannot neglect the best goalkeeper. That the time to prove his worth is over for Courtois. That he must be Chelsea’s starting keeper in the 2014-15 season. And he made that known to him. A starting place is guaranteed.”

Sanz also revealed that Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper Hilario has been calling Courtois regularly, sparking suggestions the 38-year-old may replace Cech’s trusted aide, the influential Christophe Lollichon, as goal-keeping coach at the club.

Cech’s form has come under some scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly following the 3-1 Champions League defeat to Paris St Germain last week.

But in an exclusive interview with Standard Sport last week, the 31-year-old insisted he is ready to fight Courtois for his place, saying: “It was a great move by Chelsea to sign him because you can see in the last three years how he’s developed and improved. He has a way to play, I have my way, so let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Chelsea host PSG in the second leg of their quarter-final tomorrow, when the French league leaders will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden striker injured his hamstring in the first leg but PSG midfielder Javier Pastore is confident his side will progress despite his team-mate’s absence.

“We have Edinson [Cavani] who is very dangerous in front of the goal,” said Pastore. “It’s going to be fine, Ibra is missing but we have the most important players fit. All the squad felt very well with a lot of confidence. I hope we will perform as we know we can, getting the possession and to score a goal, it’s very important.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game, because playing Chelsea away is tough. The pitch is smaller. But we will try to focus only on us, playing well.”