Not just Ekitike and Isak! Liverpool left Newcastle fuming with third deal

Liverpool managed to sign defender Giovanni Leoni despite a higher bid from Newcastle, according to Parma boss Federico Cherubini.

The summer transfer window was a miserable one for the Magpies as they missed out on a host of top targets to bigger clubs. Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Dean Huijsen, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike all opted against a move to St. James’ Park.

What made it all the more chastening for Newcastle was that Ekitike joined Liverpool, the club that spent all summer trying to sign Alexander Isak. The Reds ultimately succeeded on Deadline Day, breaking the British transfer record to land the Swede.

Newcastle had to make do with players that weren’t even really on their radar ahead of the summer. After several failed bids for Jorgen Strand Larsen, they managed to agree a deal for Nick Woltemade.

Long-time target Yoane Wissa also joined after an Isak-esque saga, but whether the two can adequately replace the 25-year-old remains to be seen. Now, it has emerged that Ekitike and Isak weren’t the only players who preferred Merseyside to Tyneside.

Liverpool beat Newcastle to Leoni signing

According to Parma chief Federico Cherubini, Liverpool beat Newcastle to the signing of Italian wonderkid Giovanni Leoni. The Magpies had a bid for the defender rejected by Parma before the Reds managed to land him with a lower offer.

“I always said we wanted to keep him, and he always said he’d be happy to stay here,” Cherubini told Gazzetta di Parma. “We even turned down an offer from Newcastle, which was more advantageous than the one Liverpool eventually made.

“When the Reds came forward, our plans changed: both because the offer was very attractive and because the player made it clear he was very happy to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Liverpool signed Leoni in mid-August for a fee in the region of €35 million after he had enjoyed a breakout season at Parma, becoming a regular under then-coach Cristian Chivu at just 18 years of age.

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