Real Madrid veteran closing in on new contract with the club

Real Madrid veteran closing in on new contract with the club Real Madrid had a very active summer transfer window, bringing in as many as seven players and also bringing back Jose Mourinho as manager. Now, with the transfer window firmly shut, Los Blancos have shifted their focus to renewals for players in the first-team squad. It was revealed earlier that the club were planning renewal talks with Thibaut Courtois, with the veteran shot-stopper in the final year of his contract. Now, according to Fabrizio Romano , the Belgium international is closing in on a new contract with Real Madrid, with an agreement between the goalkeeper and the club now almost complete. Courtois renewal now almost done The Belgian’s current contractual situation made this an urgent matter for Madrid to address, but it looks like talks have progressed smoothly. Real Madrid are closing in on a contract renewal with Courtois. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) At his age, Courtois is no spring chicken, but as a goalkeeper, he can continue to perform at the highest level for a few more seasons. The 34-year-old is at a stage of his career where it would make sense for both him and Madrid to take renewals season by season. A one-year extension is said to be on the cards for Courtois. There is little reason for Los Blancos to complicate things as long as his form and fitness remain. Madrid secure experience while planning for future Courtois remains one of the senior pillars of Jose Mourinho’s squad and offers far more than shot-stopping ability. His experience in major Champions League matches, authority inside the penalty area and composure under pressure remain enormously valuable to a Madrid team containing an increasingly young core. Even against Inter Milan just a few days ago, the Belgian was the reason the Italian side failed to score more goals on the night. At the same time, Madrid are already thinking about the longer-term future of the position. Javi Navarro is highly rated internally and the club see him as their future No. 1. The sensible decision for Madrid Javi Navarro is seen as the succession plan to Thibaut Courtois at Madrid. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Renewing Courtois gives Madrid something particularly valuable: time. There is no need to force a succession simply because the goalkeeper is entering the later stages of his career. That said, it is very important for Los Blancos to have a succession plan in place, and that has a name right now: Navarro. The agreement is not officially complete yet, but with the deal now reportedly almost done, Madrid appear close to securing another season of Courtois in goal. It remains to be seen whether this will be the last extension the Belgian signs in his storied Madrid career or whether there are more renewals left.