Real Madrid will reportedly look to sign 22-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion to replace Thibaut Courtois.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Bart Verbruggen is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Merengues want to plan for life after Thibaut Courtois, who has entered the final two months of his contract. So, the Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper has emerged as a target, with the Premier League club demanding around €40 million to sell the 22-year-old.
Bart Verbruggen and his rise in recent years
Bart Verbruggen has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in the Premier League since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from RSC Anderlecht last summer. A native of Zwolle, the Dutchman spent his formative years in his homeland and graduated from the youth division at NAC Breda.
The 22-year-old rose in prominence during his spell with Anderlecht, spending three years with the Belgian giants. Verbruggen has not been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion but has made his mark in his 29 outings thus far, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding 34 goals.
Meanwhile, Bart Verbruggen’s progress at Brighton & Hove Albion has not gone unnoticed, and he has become the first-choice goalkeeper for the Netherlands. In addition, the Dutch shot-stopper has piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid.
Real Madrid want Verbruggen
Bart Verbruggen has been on Real Madrid’s radar for a long time. The reigning La Liga champions want to plan for life after Thibaut Courtois, who has entered the final two years of his contract. With the Belgium international approaching the final phase of his glittering career, it behoves Real Madrid to scour the market for a possible long-term successor.
So, they have identified Verbruggen as a viable candidate to fill Courtois’s shoes after a few years. However, the 22-year-old Dutchman will not be a cheap acquisition, as Brighton & Hove Albion value him at around €40 million.
Meanwhile, it is unclear if Real Madrid will launch the offensive to secure Bart Verbruggen’s services in the 2025 summer transfer window or wait some more time to land him. They can follow Liverpool’s plan to land Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has returned to Valencia after agreeing to join the Premier League club.
