Chelsea would reportedly rather allow Thibaut Courtois to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2019 than sell him to Real Madrid at the end of the current season.
Courtois, 25, replaced Petr Cech as Chelsea's number one at the start of the 2014-15 campaign after spending three straight seasons with La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2014.
The Belgium international's current deal with the Blues will expire in the summer of 2019, and it is understood that the stopper is stalling on a new contract after being made aware of Madrid's interest.
However, according to The Sun, Chelsea are willing to allow Courtois to run down his contract at Stamford Bridge rather than sell him to Los Blancos in next summer's transfer window.
Courtois has kept nine clean sheets in 21 appearances for Chelsea this season.
