Chelsea have offered to make Thibaut Courtois the best-paid goalkeeper in the world and are growing increasingly optimistic the Belgian will sign a new contract.

Courtois will earn, including bonuses, more than the £200,000 a week David De Gea is paid by Manchester United if he signs a new deal that could run to 2023.

Chelsea are now concentrating their efforts on trying to secure the future of Courtois early in the New Year and have put any interest in Stoke City and England goalkeeper Jack Butland, and other potential replacements, on hold.

Real Madrid’s interest in Kepa Arrizabalaga has increased hope at Stamford Bridge that Courtois, who played for three seasons on loan at Atletico, can now be persuaded to stay.

Courtois has made it clear that he eventually wants to return to Spain, where his two young children live, but that avenue may not be open to him in the near future with Madrid tipped to sign Kepa from Athletic Bilbao in January.

The 25 year-old’s current £100,000-a-week deal will only have one year to run at the end of the season and Courtois had suggested he was willing to wait until the summer to discuss his future with Chelsea.