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Chelsea transfer news: Club resigned to losing Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in cut-price £37.5m deal

Real Madrid are expected to push ahead with a deal for Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea analyse their options with regards to recouping a fee for the Belgian international and replacing him this summer.

The Blues are now ready to accept that Courtois will leave the club but are hoping to receive £37.5m for the goalkeeper - a fee that would represent a world record in the unlikely event a deal is completed before Alisson signs for Liverpool.

Chelsea could yet make a last-minute play for the Brazil number one but all indications on Wednesday were that the Anfield club had won the race for the player that they think could be a key piece in the jigsaw of a title challenge.

Liverpool have moved swiftly and decisively with their business this off-season, signing Fabinho and Naby Keita very early, Xherdan Shaqiri shortly after his return from the World Cup and pencilling in Alisson to undergo a medical on Thursday or Friday.

Klopp would still like to sign a number 10 who can perform as a second striker, with Nabil Fekir the long-time top target in that position. Should a deal be reached with Lyon for Fekir after Alisson is confirmed then the Reds will have virtually exactly the squad desired by Klopp as he bids to challenge Manchester City for the title.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have a lot more work to do and have been considering deals for striker Gonzalo Higuain, his Juventus teammate Daniele Rugani and Lazio midfielder Sergei Milinkovic-Savic as Maurizio Sarri gets to work after finally being presented as their new coach this week.