Birmingham City were facing a bill of £20 million for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane before pulling out.
The Daily Star says Brum ditched Keane after the deal hit a staggering £20m Blues boss Alex McLeish was keen to get his hands on the Republic of Ireland striker after a £6m fee was agreed with Tottenham.
But privately, Brum were stunned by the astonishing package it would have taken to bring the 30-year-old to St Andrew's.
Spurs wanted an additional £1m if Birmingham avoided relegation and Keane himself wanted £70,000 a week and a three-and-half-year deal. The striker's salary alone would have worked out at just over £11m.
