Chelsea are interested in signing Real Madrid ’s vastly experienced goalkeeper and Spain captain Iker Casillas , according to Spanish daily Sport.

Real Madrid are already planning their summer spending spree following a disappointing exit from the Champions League and Sport claims that they are in the market for a top goalkeeper. Sport believes that Casillas’ form has deteriorated this season and describes the two goals he conceded in a recent narrow 3-2 victory over Sevilla as part of “one of the worst games to be remembered” for the 28 year-old stopper.

According to Sport, Real Madrid are lining up Almeria’s Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves as a summer replacement for Casillas. Alves has also been linked to Tottenham in recent months.

Chelsea would be keen to sign Casillas, as they too look for renewed momentum having been knocked out of the Champions League in midweek. Sport claims that Chelsea have been interested in Casillas for some time and that he “would be received with open arms” at Stamford Bridge.

Casillas is a Real Madrid legend and has signed a contract at the Bernebeu until 2017. He also led Spain to victory in the 2008 European Championships and has won over 100 caps for his country. (IMScouting)

This is one of those bits of transfer gossip that just seems so far fetched that it may well have some leverage, but then Man City will get linked and then all hope of a move will disappear in the ether. Iker Casillas is possibly the best keeper on the planet, or in the top three at the very least, and whilst he may be having his problems at Real Madrid I just find the whole idea of him leaving the La Liga giants just so damned impossible.

Chelsea have a pretty damned good keeper of their own in Petr Cech who may not be having his best season ever but is still one of the more reliable exponents of the art of goalkeeping around. The price tag on the Spanish international is apparently around £35m and whilst that may seem a big fee we are talking about a player with bags of experience, over 500 appearances, at the highest level and is amazingly still just 28, which is fairly young for a goalie.

It does seem likely though that should Casillas leave the Bernabeu that a move to the Premier League would be the most likely destination so perhaps, just perhaps, this isn’t such a stretch for the imagination after all?