• Football

No struggle to keep Courtois - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has once again reiterated his belief that on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will not be sold by the club this summer.

Highly-rated Courtois is currently in his third season on loan at Atletico Madrid, where he has carved a reputation as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world.

The young Belgian has not made a single appearance for Chelsea since joining the club in July 2011, though the club clearly regard him as a successor to veteran Petr Cech - and just last month Mourinho denied the goalkeeper would be used in a deal to bring Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge.

With Cech yet to show any signs of a dip in form, another loan spell could face Courtois, who already has 14 international caps to his name at 21 years old, but Mourinho insists Chelsea are not looking to offload him permanently in the summer.

"No," Mourinho said when asked if Chelsea are worried about losing him. "We don't struggle to keep. He has two more years of contract."

Asked whether he was required to give assurances to Courtois, the Chelsea boss claimed it isn't necessary.

"I don't need to give assurances to any player. A player that has a contract with Chelsea, has a contract with Chelsea. If anyone wants him we have to know. The problem is when you want a player and they belongs to another club. It's easy to say we have no problems.

"We have a structure that does that every weekend and passes all the information they can pass. Not just in England but abroad. Everything that happens with them are our interest. Even things with the medical department. We're in control of the situation. I prefer to give them independence. They have to play for another club. At the end of the season we'll make decisions."

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