Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani is delighted with their swoop for Willy Gnonto.
Radrizzani admits 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," he told DAZN.
"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 Nicolo Zaniolo, formerly of Roma, 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."
