5 Goalkeepers In Line To Replace Victor Valdes At Barcelona

3. Thibaut Courtois

What do you do when you have one of the best young goalkeepers around on your hands but also have an established and solid goalkeeper already? Send him out to one of the best young managers in the world to develop into a world beater seems a good idea, and that's exactly what Chelsea did when they farmed out Courtois on-loan to Atletico Madrid three seasons in a row to play under Diego Simeone. A man who undoubtedly has the talent to replace Valdes in the Barcelona goal, the Belgian has turned into probably the best and most consistent goalkeeper in the world in the last year or so, but a move for him could be scuppered by the Blues in the summer as they begin the process of replacing Petr Cech. The Belgium No.1 has impressed so much in his time with Los Colchoneros that it really is beggars belief how the Blues can't put him straight into their first team line up next season, with the former Genk man already probably better than his Czech counterpart. With his commanding performances also highlighting something that Valdes lacks, a true aerial presence, Courtois could be pushed to the front of the queue as his adopted team continue to impress both domestically and in Europe. The keeper also showed his prowess between the sticks by becoming the first man in four years to beat Valdes to the Zamora trophy in La Liga last season, with just 29 goals conceded in his 37 appearances in the league.