Real Madrid has identified Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen as a possible long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider. The Netherlands international would reportedly welcome the chance to play in Madrid.

Courtois, 34, has given little indication that he intends to leave. Speaking about his renewal in October, he said he wanted to finish his career at Madrid and expected only the final details of an extension to be settled. Another year would keep him at the Bernabéu through 2028.

Verbruggen kept his sixth clean sheet in nine Premier League games on Saturday, helping Brighton win 1-0 at Manchester City. Yasin Ayari gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute. City went on to take 21 shots, with Verbruggen denying Matheus Nunes as the home side pressed for an equalizer.

His saves have also earned Brighton points in Europe. In October’s scoreless Conference League draw with Jablonec, he denied Jiří Sláma and Vakhtang Tchanturishvili late on to preserve a fifth consecutive clean sheet across all competitions.

Brighton signed Verbruggen from Anderlecht in July 2023. He had been voted the Belgian club’s Player of the Season after making 23 appearances in 2022-23. A year after his move to England, he played every game for the Netherlands on its run to the Euro 2024 semifinals.

Brighton gave him a five-year deal when he arrived from Belgium. By next summer, the 24-year-old will have just one year left on that contract.