![Chelsea board willing to let Antonio Conte's key star leave on free transfer](https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/pri_60376782.jpg?w=748&h=503&crop=1)
Chelsea have informed Thibaut Courtois that they are ready to let him leave on a free transfer when his contract expires, according to reports.
The Belgium international’s current deal expires in June 2019 and talks over an extension are understood to be at a standstill.
The Sun claim that Chelsea will refuse to sell Courtois to Real Madrid next summer and would prefer to run down his contract rather than receive a cut-price transfer fee.
The report also claims that Courtois does not expect contract talks to continue with Chelsea until the end of their current campaign.
![Chelsea board willing to let Antonio Conte's key star leave on free transfer](https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/pri_61530959.jpg?w=620&h=418&crop=1)
More: Football
Speaking about his contract situation last month, Courtois said: ‘That’s the thing where Chelsea must deal with my agent.
‘I don’t think there have been any new developments.
‘We have so many games at the moment, and I prefer to focus on the team’s games, my own performances, and there will be time enough towards the end of the season to have talks.’
![Chelsea board willing to let Antonio Conte's key star leave on free transfer](https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/pri_58952308.jpg?w=620&h=930&crop=1)
But last week, Antonio Conte urged Chelsea’s board to quickly agree a new deal for his first-choice goalkeeper.
‘I can say Courtois is one of the best, maybe the best goalkeeper in the world and he is a player very important for Chelsea,’ said the Italian.
‘But the renewal of contract is a task for the club.
‘He knows very well my opinion and my thoughts about him. I consider him one of the best.’
More: Chelsea FC
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