Levante president Quico Catalan made a last ditch attempt to keep Jefferson Lerma away from Bournemouth last summer, it has been revealed.

Superdeporte says convinced by his coaching staff, Catalan made a late effort to convince Lerma to reject Bournemouth and remain with the LaLiga minnows.

Despite having handed the Colombia international a new deal less than three months previously, which had made him the highest paid in the club's history, Catalan offered to upgrade that deal further.

However, Lerma was determined to move to Bournemouth and with the assistance of the Cherries was able to make the switch.

Bournemouth's decision to up their bid to near €30m convinced Catalan and the Levante board to sell.