Concern is growing within Real Madrid regarding the future of their goalkeeping position. While Thibaut Courtois will remain the first-choice goalkeeper for the time being, the post-Courtois era at the Santiago Bernabéu is far from reassuring.
Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin performed well when Courtois was sidelined with injury for much of the season before last, but he failed to convince Real Madrid’s management that he is the ideal long-term replacement for the 32-year-old.
According to recent reports, Real Madrid’s management has identified two names as potential successors to Courtois, with a move for one of them planned for the summer of 2027, not this coming summer.
The first name is Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Gregor Köppel, and the other is Brighton’s goalkeeper, Barb Verbruggen.
Swiss goalkeeper Köppel has been a standout performer for Dortmund, boasting the most clean sheets in the Bundesliga this season, while Verbruggen is one of the world’s most promising young goalkeepers, having kept 22 clean sheets in 94 appearances for Brighton so far.
Undoubtedly, acquiring either of these two will be a complex and extremely expensive task, as they are both the focus of attention for several major European clubs, most notably Bayern Munich, who have already begun searching for a successor to Manuel Neuer, expected to retire at the end of next season.
