Thibaut Courtois set to reject Real Madrid, sign new Chelsea deal

Clubs are slowly turning their eyes toward the summer window, and Transfer Talk has the updates on all the latest rumours.

Courtois close to shunning Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois is close to signing a new deal with Chelsea amidst interest from Real Madrid, according to the Mirror.

The Blues goalkeeper has just one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge and has flirted with the possibility of returning to Spain, where he played for three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid.

With his family still in the Spanish capital, Courtois has never denied that a move back later on in his career would appeal, but the reigning Premier League champions are ready to make him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world at £200,000 per week.

Los Blancos are yet to decide on which custodian to target this summer between the 25-year-old and Manchester United's David De Gea.

Real would prefer Courtois to delay his decision over a new contract until the summer to give them more time to settle on the best option to succeed Keylor Navas between the sticks.

United aim to hijack Barca's Arthur deal

Manchester United are making a late move to hijack Barcelona's deal to sign Gremio star Arthur, claims Sport.

Monaco are also interested after months of speculation that the Blaugrana would wrap up a deal for the 21-year-old.

Arthur shot to prominence during Gremio's run to win the Copa Libertadores last year, and the Ligue 1 club have already submitted a €22 million offer.

Jose Mourinho is another known admirer of Arthur, who could bring balance to his midfield, and a switch to the Red Devils could appeal more than Barcelona to the Brazilian due to a clearer path to the starting lineup.

Liverpool face Martins deadline

Liverpool have until the World Cup to trigger Gelson Martins' €60 million release clause, otherwise the price will skyrocket, with Sabado claiming Sporting Lisbon "will not have a price" after this summer's showpiece event.

The Portuguese outlet also says that Barcelona and Bayern Munich will join the Reds in the race to sign the 22-year-old.

Another layer to a potential deal sees Sporting with the option to raise the buyout clause to €100 million if they pay the player €1.5 million, though that clause would also expire after Russia 2018.

The winger has 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season, and any interest should be firmed up soon to avoid a bidding war later in the summer.

Tap-ins

-- The Mirror says RB Leipzig have targeted a number of Tottenham starlets after former Spurs scout Paul Mitchell became the Bundesliga club's head of recruitment and development.

A succession of deals would all be loans, just like Ademola Lookman, who joined from Everton in January. His early success could tempt the likes of Reo Griffiths, 17, to experience German football.

-- Bolton are in talks to sign ex-Sunderland midfielder Jan Kirchhoff, reports Sky Sports.

The former Bayern Munich starlet left the Black Cats at the end of last season and has been without a club since, but the Trotters are set to offer the 27-year-old a deal until the end of the season in their bid to beat the drop.