Stekelenburg linked with surprise transfer to Real Madrid

In somewhat shocking news only slightly smaller in magnitude than Everton’s limp loss at Aston Villa last night, backup goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is being linked with a late switch to Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants are concerned they might lose backup goalkeeper Keylor Navas to Paris St. Germain, and are making provisional plans for another player to cover for starter Thibaut Courtois.

As reported by the Football Insider, Real have expressed interest in the World Cup finalist who has been with the Blues for the fourth season now, featuring 26 times and giving up 31 goals with 7 clean sheets.

With the signing of free agent Jonas Lossl this summer to back up Jordan Pickford, Stekelenburg has been pushed to third choice as he enters the last year of his contract. Surprisingly Lossl wasn’t on the bench yesterday at Villa Park, with Stekelenburg named to the matchday squad of 18.

The Blues have already shipped out Joao Virginia to Reading FC on a season-long loan, so will find themselves short at the position should they let Stekelenburg leave. The Under-23s are currently thin at the goalie position too, with Under-18 keepers Nicholas Defreitas-Hansen and Harry Tyrer between the sticks in Premier League 2 action.