Chelsea hope their £73million world-record valuation of Thibaut Courtois will scare off Real Madrid.

Real are considering making another move for the keeper this summer should they fail to prise David de Gea out of Manchester United.

Courtois is understood to be keen to return to La Liga in the future after a three-year spell on loan from Chelsea at Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea responded to an enquiry by Real for Courtois last summer by putting a £73m fee on his head, more than double the Gianluigi Buffon fee for his switch to Juventus from Parma in 2001.

Despite struggling for his best form, Chelsea do not think his value has dropped and he remains one of the best young keepers in the world.

He has more than three years of his contract remaining and, having let Petr Cech join Arsenal last summer, Chelsea would only let Courtois go for a massive fee.

Real’s move for De Gea collapsed on transfer deadline day when a faulty fax machine prevented the paperwork being done in time. He signed a new four-year contract but it is thought to include a Real release clause.

Real might be encouraged by Courtois’ revelation yesterday that he enjoys playing behind Belgium’s defence rather than Chelsea’s.

He said: “We’re still conceding too many goals and that’s not entirely the defence’s fault, even though I prefer playing with Belgium’s back four.”

The players Antonio Conte wants to transform Chelsea this summer 13 show all The players Antonio Conte wants to transform Chelsea this summer 1/13 Chelsea's new manager signed a three-year contract worth £14.3m after tax. But which players will the 46-year-old look to bring in?



Scroll through Standard Sport's gallery to find out more about Conte's potential transfer targets. Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images 2/13 Romelu Lukaku The Belgium international left Chelsea for Everton in a £28m deal just two years ago after growing frustrated over a lack of first-team opportunities but could be set for a sensational return.



Chelsea are prepared to pay as much as £67m to seal the Belgian’s return to Stamford Bridge, with Everton holding out for as much as £75m.



However, Standard Sport understands that Lukaku could yet submit a transfer request to force through the move. Chris Brunskill/Getty Images 3/13 Diego Lopez Chelsea have been looking at potential replacements for Asmir Begovic and held talks with Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda, only for him to opt for Crystal Palace because he was told he would be their No.1.



The Blues are now looking at the experienced Lopez, who made only nine appearances for AC Milan last term after losing his place to teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma. Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images 4/13 Alvaro Morata Chelsea made a move to sign the Spaniard at the beginning of June but must now wait until after Euro 2016 as the striker ponders his future. Real Madrid have activated a buy-back clause inserted into Morata's contract when he left the Bernabeu for Juventus in 2014. But it is understood the Spanish giants will then look to again offload the 23-year-old for a sizeable profit. (David Ramos/Getty Images) 5/13 Kalidou Koulibaly Conte wants a centre-half and Koulibaly is his main target despite Napoli saying they want the 25‑year‑old to stay.



But the club fear they will have to pay in excess of £50million to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli – and smash the British transfer record for a defender. Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images 6/13 Graziano Pelle After securing the signing of Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, Conte will look to bring Italy striker Pelle to Stamford Bridge. Claudio Villa/Getty Images 7/13 Radja Nainggolan Chelsea had hoped to have concluded a deal for Roma’s Belgian star in a £31million deal, but Standard Sport understands that they have started looking at alternate targets, such as Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante, after growing frustrated by negotiations. Getty 8/13 Leonardo Bonucci The Juventus defender hugely admired by Conte, who he coached at Juventus between 2011-14 and has coached him for the past two years in the national team Marco Luzzani/Getty Images 9/13 Mauro Icardi The Inter Milan captain, still only 23, would be the younger striking option that Conte could favour alongside a more experienced man up front. Despite snubbing a move away from the Nerazzurri and signing a new deal at Inter last summer, the former Chelsea target could be encouraged to come to England with the prospect of a salary increase especially as Inter are struggling to secure Champions League football for next season. Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images 10/13 Paul Pogba The France international has been on the radar of Europe's top clubs for some time now, but rejected a move away from Juventus last summer after saying it wasn't the right time to depart. Only a big money move would tempt Juve to part with their prized asset and if Chelsea do not secure Champions League football for next season, a transfer for Pogba would prove difficult. 11/13 Edinson Cavani The Uruguay striker could be the experienced forward Conte is looking for, and will also be a viable option as PSG are thought to be ready to listen to offers for the 29-year-old. Cavani would arrive to Chelsea in good form too - he's scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, including the winning strike against Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 first-leg in February. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images 12/13 Gonzalo Higuain Higuain has also attracted interest from Arsenal during recent months but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has always warned that interested parties will have to pay the striker’s £65.8m buyout clause to get hold of him. (Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) 13/13 Kostas Manolas Chelsea have made a fresh enquiry for Roma's Kostas Manolas, who has been earmarked as a replacement for captain John Terry in the back four. (Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) 1/13 Chelsea's new manager signed a three-year contract worth £14.3m after tax. But which players will the 46-year-old look to bring in?



Scroll through Standard Sport's gallery to find out more about Conte's potential transfer targets. Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images 2/13 Romelu Lukaku The Belgium international left Chelsea for Everton in a £28m deal just two years ago after growing frustrated over a lack of first-team opportunities but could be set for a sensational return.



Chelsea are prepared to pay as much as £67m to seal the Belgian’s return to Stamford Bridge, with Everton holding out for as much as £75m.



However, Standard Sport understands that Lukaku could yet submit a transfer request to force through the move. Chris Brunskill/Getty Images 3/13 Diego Lopez Chelsea have been looking at potential replacements for Asmir Begovic and held talks with Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda, only for him to opt for Crystal Palace because he was told he would be their No.1.



The Blues are now looking at the experienced Lopez, who made only nine appearances for AC Milan last term after losing his place to teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma. Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images 4/13 Alvaro Morata Chelsea made a move to sign the Spaniard at the beginning of June but must now wait until after Euro 2016 as the striker ponders his future. Real Madrid have activated a buy-back clause inserted into Morata's contract when he left the Bernabeu for Juventus in 2014. But it is understood the Spanish giants will then look to again offload the 23-year-old for a sizeable profit. (David Ramos/Getty Images) 5/13 Kalidou Koulibaly Conte wants a centre-half and Koulibaly is his main target despite Napoli saying they want the 25‑year‑old to stay.



But the club fear they will have to pay in excess of £50million to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli – and smash the British transfer record for a defender. Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images 6/13 Graziano Pelle After securing the signing of Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, Conte will look to bring Italy striker Pelle to Stamford Bridge. Claudio Villa/Getty Images 7/13 Radja Nainggolan Chelsea had hoped to have concluded a deal for Roma’s Belgian star in a £31million deal, but Standard Sport understands that they have started looking at alternate targets, such as Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante, after growing frustrated by negotiations. Getty 8/13 Leonardo Bonucci The Juventus defender hugely admired by Conte, who he coached at Juventus between 2011-14 and has coached him for the past two years in the national team Marco Luzzani/Getty Images 9/13 Mauro Icardi The Inter Milan captain, still only 23, would be the younger striking option that Conte could favour alongside a more experienced man up front. Despite snubbing a move away from the Nerazzurri and signing a new deal at Inter last summer, the former Chelsea target could be encouraged to come to England with the prospect of a salary increase especially as Inter are struggling to secure Champions League football for next season. Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images 10/13 Paul Pogba The France international has been on the radar of Europe's top clubs for some time now, but rejected a move away from Juventus last summer after saying it wasn't the right time to depart. Only a big money move would tempt Juve to part with their prized asset and if Chelsea do not secure Champions League football for next season, a transfer for Pogba would prove difficult. 11/13 Edinson Cavani The Uruguay striker could be the experienced forward Conte is looking for, and will also be a viable option as PSG are thought to be ready to listen to offers for the 29-year-old. Cavani would arrive to Chelsea in good form too - he's scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, including the winning strike against Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 first-leg in February. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images 12/13 Gonzalo Higuain Higuain has also attracted interest from Arsenal during recent months but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has always warned that interested parties will have to pay the striker’s £65.8m buyout clause to get hold of him. (Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) 13/13 Kostas Manolas Chelsea have made a fresh enquiry for Roma's Kostas Manolas, who has been earmarked as a replacement for captain John Terry in the back four. (Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, back-up keeper Asmir Begovic has hinted he is prepared to stay next term. He had made 19 appearances by November due to Courtois suffering a knee injury, but has played just once since then.

He said: “(Moving to Chelsea) wasn’t as simple as being No1 or No2 — I felt I needed a new challenge.

“Certain things were put in place, conversations sounded good to me and I wanted to be part of a great club and help the team win trophies.

“It hasn’t gone as planned, but hopefully that will change and the future will look a bit brighter.”