Parma CEO Federico Cherubini revealed that they had received a higher offer for Giovanni Leoni from Newcastle United before they sold the defender to Liverpool for €35 million (£30m/$40m) in the summer transfer window. The Reds were in search of a new defender earlier in the summer and after going through multiple profiles, they zeroed in on Leoni.

Parma chief revealed Newcastle wanted LeoniThe Italian side rejected the offerLeoni joined Liverpool in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Newcastle missed out on several of their summer transfers and had even had to sell their star striker, Alexander Isak, to Liverpool on deadline day. The Magpies eyed moves for high-profile stars like Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, but the two strikers eventually ended up at Liverpool and Manchester United, respectively. 

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Now, Parma chief Cherubini has claimed that Magpies had also eyed a move for Leoni in the summer and had even submitted a massive bid for the defender, higher than the price that the Italian side had eventually got from the sale of the player to Liverpool. 

WHAT CHERUBINI SAID

Speaking to Gazzetta di Parma (via ), the Parma official said: "We rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni. But plans have changed with Liverpool. This is because the offer was very attractive and because Giovanni made it clear he was very happy to join Liverpool."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Reds have kicked off their title defence campaign on a high, as they maintained a hundred per cent win record in their first three Premier League matches. They will be back in action on September 14 as they play Burnley away from home.