Liverpool eventually snapped up Alexander Isak from Newcastle after the player dug his heels in to secure a move to Merseyside. And the Reds also got the better of the Magpies to secure the services of Giovanni Leoni from Parma after the Italian club previously rejected an approach from the north east giants.
Parma ultimately allowed the defender to fulfil his dream of moving to Liverpool. Last month, Leoni made the switch to Anfield, completing a £26million transfer from the Italian side as part of a significant recruitment drive under Arne Slot.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after young centre-backs following an impressive season in Serie A with Parma, who were hesitant to let him go.
However, Parma's chief executive Federico Cherubini revealed that Leoni's ambition to join the Premier League champions was the deciding factor, despite Newcastle's interest.
"I've always said we wanted to keep him, and he's 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 boy made it clear he was very happy to take advantage of this opportunity.
"On the one hand, it's disappointing to lose such a promising young player, but on the other, we're proud to have believed in him in unsuspecting times, when he'd only played a few games in Serie B."
Newcastle United were left disappointed for the second time during the summer transfer window as Liverpool swooped in to secure the services of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a potential £79m, beating the Magpies to the punch.
Currently, Leoni is with the Italian squad preparing for their World Cup qualifiers against Estonia at home on Friday and Israel in Hungary on Monday.
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso, explaining Leoni's maiden call-up to the senior team, highlighted a standout performance against Napoli's striker Romelu Lukaku last season.
"When I see a player, there's something that has to strike me," he stated. "I think they're young, but they have nerve and already play like adults.
"Leoni played openly with Lukaku last year, and for me, they're ready. Maybe at our age we didn't have the nerve they have today, and when I see that, I reward them. Of course, there's always quality at the core."