Real Madrid 'eye Thibaut Courtois replacement'

Real Madrid are reportedly closely monitoring Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon as Thibaut Courtois continues to struggle to perform for the Spanish giants.

Courtois joined Madrid from Chelsea in 2018, and the Belgium international has become the club's undisputed number one goalkeeper despite competition from Keylor Navas, who has since joined Paris Saint-Germain.

The 27-year-old has found it difficult to show his best form for Zinedine Zidane's side, though, and has only kept three clean sheets in 10 appearances this season, conceding 12 times in the process.

According to El Desmarque, Madrid are considering a swoop for Bilbao stopper Simon, who would be available for £43m due to a clause in his current deal at San Mames.

The 22-year-old came through the youth system at Bilbao and has only been the club's number-one choice between the sticks since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

This season, Simon - capped at Under-21 level by Spain - has kept four clean sheets in eight La Liga outings, shipping just four goals in the process during an impressive run of form.