Chelsea have informed Real Madrid that they will not resume talks about goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois until they secure a replacement, according to Sky Sports.

Ex-Atletico Madrid loanee Courtois, 26, has been linked with a €35 million (Dh150.7m) return to the Spanish capital all pre-season. The Belgium No1 desires being closer to his children and has declined to renew a contract with the Blues that expires next summer.

But he will begin 2018/19 at Stamford Bridge if a successor is not purchased. Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Stoke City’s Jack Butland have been linked to the role.

Courtois has played 154 times for Chelsea since his arrival from Genk in 2011.