New Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is unsure whether Thibaut Courtois will stay at the club.

The Belgian No1 has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer and has revealed his desire to return to the capital, where he some of his family resides.

Ahead of Sunday’s pre-season curtain-raiser, the Community Shield clash against Manchester City, Sarri told the assembled media that he hoped the 26-year-old would stay. However, it was dependent on him.

“At the moment Courtois is the goalkeeper of the club, of Chelsea,” Sarri told reporters. “I don’t know in the future. It depends on the club. It depends especially on him, I think.

“But, I hope that Courtois will be our goalkeeper. It’s very important for us to keep the top players.”

Los Blancos have yet to show their hand and make a concrete bid for Courtois’s services, however, sources at the Bernabeu have made clear that could be imminent.