Winners and Losers from Thibaut Courtois transfer to Real Madrid

Loser: Chelsea

Chelsea lost out big time due to Courtois's Real Madrid transfer

Chelsea had to let off one of their prime assets, one the most consistent player in last six years, their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. That too for a reported transfer fee of mere £35 million. This highlights the failure of Chelsea management to allow their keeper to float into the last 12 months of his contract. Especially considering the fact that Courtois family resides in Madrid and in past he has often spoken about his intentions to reunite with them. Adding to the fact that Real Madrid were on a lookout for World Class shot-stopper since the departure of Casillas. Chelsea's failure to tie him down on long-term contract eventually cost them huge transfer fee, which they could have demanded from Madrid.

Due to Courtois imminent transfer, Chelsea had to splash whopping €80 million on a relatively young and unknown Spanish International keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao. It was a surprising move from Chelsea considering they had cheaper and proven Premier League goalkeepers like Jack Butland and Kasper Schmeichel available in the market for less than half of Kepa's transfer fee. Kepa who has just played two full seasons in La Liga is a young and talented keeper, but considering Liverpool paid 65 million for Brazil's No 1 short stopper like Alisson, one feels Chelsea massively overpaid for Arrizabalaga's services.