Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has explained why his club failed to bring in Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo despite heavy links at the end of the January transfer window.
The Whites have been linked to numerous players over the past two windows in deals that they've failed to get over the line, and the Italian has often been left red-faced after telling fans on social media about incoming signings that have fallen apart late on.
"When we approach a foreign club, a player’s cost rises by €10m only because we are from the Premier League," he said in an interview with DAZN.
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"We were close to signing [Cody] Gakpo on the deadline day. I had spoken to his father. It was all done with PSV and almost done with him. Unfortunately Louis Van Gaal called him saying he should have gotten regular playing time before the World Cup.
"Three months later his value had tripled and he joined Liverpool."
One deal the Whites did manage to secure was Italy international Wilfried Gnonto late on in the summer, but he wasn't the club's original target and actually came to Elland Road six months before they'd planned.
"We were about to sign this Marseille player, Bamba [Dieng]. I had even tweeted it. I was about to get on the plane, but he didn’t arrive. I was told he had changed his mind and didn’t want to leave anymore.
"Eventually, he chose Nice. This is why we signed Gnonto in advance. He was supposed to join in January.
"Thank god, he arrived. I am proud of him, he is Italian and is such a great guy. He speaks four languages he is open-minded. A fantastic guy. Eventually, Bamba didn’t pass his medical with Nice and remained at Marseille."
Leeds were also interested in Club Brugge forward Charles De Ketelaere last summer before he secured a move to AC Milan, while January target Zaniolo joined Galatasaray in February.
"We were in talks for De Ketelaere but in the end, he chose Milan. Zaniolo? We tried at the last moment. but we didn’t do it because Roma had no spots left for non-EU players."
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