Chelsea among several clubs interested in 20-year-old Real Madrid academy graduate | OneFootball

As reported, Real Madrid are starting to worry about life after Thibaut Courtois who has been a rock at the back for the team for almost eight years now.

The Belgian international will be turning 34 years old in a few months, has had some physical problems, and his contract expires in 2027.

So, it is natural for Real Madrid to start thinking about a succession plan for their No. 1, although they are in no rush to make any decision.

Fran Gonzalez rated highly, but attracting interest

And, one of the options for Real Madrid, according to journalist Jorge C Picon, would be to promote in-house talent Fran Gonzalez.

The 20-year-old La Fabrica talent has long been seen as a potential heir to Courtois and at the club, there is blind faith in his potential and abilities.

However, as per the report, Gonzalez also happens to be attracting a wave of interest from several clubs from within Spain and abroad.

Fran Gonzalez is a highly-rated young goalkeeper. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Indeed, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea have shown an interest in the young Spaniard and have conveyed it to the player’s representatives. They intend to make him their goalkeeper for the future.

Meanwhile, within Spain, teams like Real Sociedad, Espanyol, and Valencia, among others, hold Gonzalez in very high regard.

Real Madrid yet to make a decision

As far as Real Madrid are concerned, the question with Gonzalez is whether it would be best for him to continue his development within the club’s system or gain experience elsewhere.

The Merengues, in recent times, have allowed highly-rated academy talents to leave but have done so by maintaining some degree of control on their future – through buyback clauses and sell-on clauses.

So, it will be interesting to see what approach they take with Gonzalez in the future – whether he is allowed to leave on loan or permanently with a buyback option or retained at the club.