Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea are set to hit Thibaut Courtois with a £200,000 fine after the Belgian failed to return to pre-season training this week.
After reaching the final weekend of theWorld Cup with Belgium, Courtois was due to return to Cobham on Monday but failed to turn up in a desperate bid to force a move away from Stamford Bridge.
The fine consists of two weeks’ wages for the goalkeeper, who is thought to be on a £100,000-per-week deal.
The Blues have opened disciplinary procedures against Courtois who remains in Belgium having also failed to turn up on Tuesday morning.
Courtois is hoping to force through a move to Real Madrid but Chelsea will not let the keeper leave for less than £45million.
However, the 26-year-old has just 12-months to run on his current deal and Chelsea may have to compromise on a fee or face the risk of losing a prized asset on a free transfer next summer.
Maurizio Sarri will also be keen to have a replacement lined up before tonorrow’s 5pm deadline.
Jan Oblak has been targeted as a replacement, with the Blues even tempted to break the world record fee for a goalkeeper by triggering the Atletico Madrid stopper’s £89million release clause.
Courtois holds a desire to return to his family in Madrid, where he featured before replacing Petr Cech as No 1 at Stamford Bridge.
He spent three seasons on loan at Atletico after joining Chelsea back in 2011, impressing as the club won La Liga and the Europa League, before finishing runners-up in the Champions League in 2014.