Real Madrid enter race for Willian: Chelsea seriously considering £100m double bid from European champions to sign winger AND Thibaut Courtois

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Real Madrid have made Chelsea an opening offer of £100m for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielder Willian, according to sources in Spain.

The Belgian goalkeeper has made no secret of his desire to move back to the Spanish capital where his children live. He has just one year remaining on his contract at Chelsea.

After an impressive World Cup, 29-year-old Willian looked set to join Barcelona last week but the Catalan club baulked at Chelsea’s £70m asking price and settled on spending half that amount on Bordeaux winger Malcom instead.

Willian has alerted Real Madrid after an impressive World Cup campaign with Brazil in Russia

Now Madrid want to include Willian in their swoop for Courtois with the Brazilian making up around £65m of the combined fee.

Courtois has been the Spanish club’s No 1 target for some time with the Real Madrid board convinced they will get their man as soon as Chelsea have signed a replacement.

Chelsea have until the August 9 transfer deadline to make a move for a new keeper with Stoke’s Jack Butland easier to sign than first-choice target Jordan Pickford who Everton do not want to release.

Thibaut Courtois has made no secret of his desire to move back to the Spanish capital

Barcelona were close to signing Willian but eventually baulked at Chelsea’s £70m asking price

Chelsea would then have until the end of the month to tie-up a deal with Madrid to send Courtois to Spain because La Liga’s window will remain open until August 31.

Signing Willian would underline Real Madrid’s intention to free-up Gareth Bale this season.

He was regularly shackled to the right-side of a midfield quartet under Zinedine Zidane. But new coach Julen Lopetegui wants him playing as a more central striker enjoying the freedom that was previously bestowed on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sportsmail understand Real’s opening bid is being seriously considered. The European champions have been quiet in the transfer market so far with £40m right back Alvaro Odriozola their only major acquisition to date.

Chelsea have until the August 9 to sign a new keeper with Jordan Pickford one of their targets

Signing Willian from Chelsea would underline new Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui's (right) intention to use Gareth Bale (left) as the central striker in his formation

Chelsea showed some signs of a willingness to negotiate their Willian asking price last week when Barcelona turned their attention to Malcom, who was on his way to join Roma.

But Barcelona moved quickly for the 21-year-old Bordeaux player, signing him the following day. Manchester United have also expressed interest in Willian.

But Real’s bid would give Chelsea another opportunity to get a sizeable fee for a player who only has two years left on his deal.

They would also be happy to cash-in on 26-year-old Courtois, whose two young children live with their mother in the Spanish capital. He has previously stated that his 'heart is in Madrid’.