What They Said: Wenger Coy on transfers; Courtois reflects on Chelsea future

Arsene-Wenger
Arsene-Wenger

Arsenal are reported to be lining up a loan move for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted that the striker will not be sold in the January transfer window, but the player himself hinted of a possibility of moving elsewhere.

Arsene-Wenger

Further, it has been reported in English press that the La Liga giants have made a U-turn and are prepared to loan him out.

Arsene Wenger, in his press conference today has admitted that he doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to land Morata in January.

When asked whether Arsenal were in talks with Real Madrid, Wenger replied: “I don’t know. We are not in talks. With Real about anybody.”

Thibaut Courtois

Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that he will hold talks with Blues manager Jose Mourinho and will let him know that he will not accept roles on the bench, when he arrives in London.

Coutois is currently on loan with Atletico Madrid where he in enjoying yet another fabulous season with the Rojiblancos. The 21-year-old shot-stopper has no shortage of admirers but Chelsea are unwilling to sell their prized asset at the moment.

“My agent is currently talking with Chelsea,” said Courtois, in an interview this week with ‘Knack’ magazine, in Belgium. “One of these weeks, I’ll have a chat with José Mourinho. When we meet hasn’t been decided yet. January is a busy month for me and also for Chelsea.

“I will never say I’m a better goalkeeper than Petr Cech.  But I’m not a player anymore that you can put on the bench, I think. I will take that in mind when I take a decision.

“I can say what I think, but in the end the boss makes the decision. It is a game of supply and demand. Clubs don’t gain an advantage by take a decision against the will of a player.”

Certainly, the situation of Courtois is a delicate one. The youngster has been in terrific form for Atletico Madrid in the last two-and-a-half seasons and it will be sort-of set-back for him to find himself on bench week-in-week-out at Chelsea, hoping for a chance. Then again, replacing Petr Cech at Chelsea is not an easy task, therefore it will be interesting to see, how the situation develops from here on.

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