Real Madrid hoping to unsettle one of European rivals’ most important players

Real Madrid are planning for life after Thibaut Courtois and have reportedly identified AC Milan’s Mike Maignan as the Belgian’s ideal successor.

With age against him and injuries beginning to mount, 32-year-old Courtois has just two years left on his contract.

Unlikely to offer the goalkeeper a renewed deal, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is planning to sign a new shot-stopper in the summer.

Mike Maignan on Real Madrid’s radar

And according to TEAMtalk, one candidate to replace Courtois as Madrid’s number one is AC Milan’s Maignan.

The French keeper, like Courtois, has two years left on his contract in Italy but is making little progress in his talks to renew due to a difference in salary demands.

Consequently, Madrid have asked to be kept in the loop on the keeper’s situation and could launch their assault at the end of the season when the 29-year-old will have just 12 months left on his deal.

Given their illustrious history and world-class squad, it goes without saying Madrid can offer the France international immediate success — something AC Milan cannot confidently do.

During his three years at the San Siro, Maignan, who has several compatriots at Madrid, including Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe, has kept 44 clean sheets in 113 games in all competitions.

Los Blancos have also been linked with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen.