Serial loanee Thibaut Courtois is set to return to Chelsea and challenge Petr Cech for the goalkeeper’s jersey next season.
Manager Jose Mourinho says he thinks the Belgium international will be at Stamford Bridge for the 2014/15 campaign, but refused to give any guarantees about playing time.
Asked if the 21-year-old would be a Blues player: “I believe so, I don’t think he will be loaned out.
“We don’t struggle to keep him because he has two more years on his contract. I don’t need to give any assurances to any player.
“A player that has a contract with Chelsea has a contract with Chelsea. Chelsea has Petr Cech, Courtois and Schwarzer. We are in a good condition.”
Courtois has spent the last three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, establishing himself as one of the world’s most highly rated keepers in that time.
He has made it clear that he does not want to return to Chelsea to play second-fiddle to Petr Cech.
His name has been mentioned in terms of the deal to bring Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge. That would involve him staying at Atletico permanently in exchange for a reduced price for their star striker.
And Mourinho recently included Courtois in a list of players who could potentially be soldto help the club turn a profit during future transfer windows.
His latest comments suggest his preference is for Courtois to link-up with his squad this summer and wrestle the shirt from Cech on merit.
