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Liverpool reportedly considered signing Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier before opting to buy Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Reds had drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates as they sought a back-up for No.1 Alisson Becker, with Caoimhin Kelleher heading for the exit door. A $39.3million (£29m) deal for Mamardashvili was struck with Valencia in August last year but Liverpool had to wait until this summer for his arrival as part of the agreement.
That suited Liverpool as the club were aware Kelleher wanted to move on at the end of last season to further his ambitions before eventually joining Brentford in a deal worth around $24.4m (£18m). However, it could well have been one of Liverpool's alternative targets who filled Kelleher's shoes had a deal for Mamardashvili not worked out.
The Times report that former Lille stopper Chevalier was also on Liverpool's radar, along with Porto keeper Diogo Costa.
Chevalier, 23, would ultimately earn a move to Champions League winners PSG in the summer, where he usurped Gianluigi Donnarumma who has now joined Liverpool's rivals Manchester City in a $35.2m (£26m) deal.
Signing Chevalier would have proved more costly for Liverpool, however, with PSG committing to a fee that could eventually rise to $64m (£47m).
That may well have put the Reds off given Alisson, 32, is still under contract until the end of the season with Liverpool holding the option to extend his deal by a further year.
Costa, 25, would also likely have been a more expensive acquisition than Mamardashvili, who is happy to fight for his place and create his own legacy at Anfield.
After finally completing his switch in July, the 24-year-old Georgian international said: "I am happy, I am very excited to be here.
"It's a huge moment for me because joining a club like Liverpool, it's not only a transfer, it's a dream come true. I feel ready, motivated and proud.
“When I agreed [to] Liverpool's offer last summer, I felt that something big was beginning in my life. But now I truly understand what it means to be Liverpool's player.
"When I was a child I always watched some videos on YouTube of goalkeepers.
"I remember Jerzy Dudek and then Pepe Reina and now Alisson Becker. Liverpool has a big goalkeeper legacy and I want to try to write my own chapter."
Mamardashvili is yet to make his competitive debut for Liverpool but could be handed his chance when they meet Southampton in the Carabao Cup later this month.
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