Maurizio Sarri is ready to splash the cash at Chelsea, and the new Blues boss is eyeing up a potential move for Stoke City and England goalkeeper Jack Butland, should current number one Thibaut Courtois exit Stamford Bridge before the start of the new Premier League season next month.
Courtois has been linked with Real Madrid for months now, and the Belgian stopper has already told the media that he would like to move closer to his kids, who reside in the Spanish capital, and a move to the Bernabeu could be on the cards, but if the Golden Glove winner at this year's World Cup does move to Spain then Chelsea will need a replacement goalkeeper to fill the void.
So, Sarri is targeting Butland, who is currently on holiday after playing understudy to Jordan Pickford at the World Cup for Gareth Southgate's England, but is expected to return to the Potters at the start of next week.
Stoke suffered a disappointing relegation campaign last season, and will play their football in the Championship this campaign, so it would be no surprise to see Butland exit the Potteries for a return to top-flight football, and the Three Lions international could relish a move to west London to take over from Courtois, should he leave.
Potters boss Gary Rowett is sure to want to keep Butland at the bet365 Stadium, and it's likely that he is going to whack a £30m price tag on Butland, but Chelsea's hierarchy know that seeing Courtois exit would leave a huge place to feel and the 25-year-old Butland could be an ideal replacement for the Blues.
