Real Madrid reportedly wanted to sign Thibaut Courtois instead of David De Gea this summer.
De Gea is widely expected to move to Madrid in the coming weeks but things could have been different - had Chelsea not demanded £73million for their stopper.
The Manchester United man has long been touted as Iker Casillas' replacement at the Bernabeu, with president Florentino Perez set to meet De Gea's agent this week.
Real will then make a formal approach to United to begin negotiating his fee, which is thought to be in the region of £25million.
However, Chelsea stopper Courtois was in fact their No.1 target to replace Casillas, according to the Telegraph.
It is claimed Real were prepared to pay close to £37million for the Belgian international, who was outstanding in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
A deal at that price would have made him the most expensive goalkeeper ever but Chelsea reportedly claimed they would have to DOUBLE their offer to stand any chance of signing him.
Thibaut Courtois vs David De Gea - Premier League clean sheets 2014/15
That fee would have equalled what Real paid for Gareth Bale in 2013, but the Spanish giants were unsurprisingly put off by Chelsea's valuation.
Reports in Spain claim Casillas is ready to end his association with Real this summer because he does not want to cause problems for his lifelong club.
Real are expected to table a formal bid for De Gea in the coming days, although United believe his current market value is around £40million.
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