Chelsea summer signing Marco Palestra was also a target for Liverpool, but they could not make a move for the man the Blues paid £47 million for.
Palestra moved to Stamford Bridge from Atalanta over the summer, in one of Xabi Alonso’s first major signings as Chelsea boss.
The 21-year-old does not have a great amount of experience, most of which came during last season on loan at Cagliari, where he made 37 appearances in all competitions.
The right-back did enough in that season to earn his first two caps for Italy, won in March this year, and ultimately a huge move to the Premier League.
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Injury has caused his early Chelsea career to stall, but he did impress in pre-season and hopes to make his competitive debut for the Blues soon.
Chelsea was not the only club interested in the Italian over the summer, with Liverpool also believed to have him on their shopping list before he moved to England.
The Athletic report that the Reds ‘explored the possibility of challenging Chelsea’ for the signing of Palestra over the last transfer window.
Liverpool never followed through with the interest as their priorities were elsewhere in the transfer market.
After the departure of Mohamed Salah, the Reds needed to sign wide forwards, while the deal to bring in centre-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes was already agreed but went through over the summer.
Bradley Barcola proved to be the headline signing of the window, arriving from Paris Saint-Germain for £106m, while Victor Munoz also joined from Osasuna for £34.5m.
Jeremie Frimpong remains first choice at right-back, with Conor Bradley not expected back from his long-term knee injury until November.
Palestra – who was also linked with a move to Inter Milan over the summer – is expected to feature regularly under Alonso this season when he has recovered from a knock picked up in training.
Speaking of the Italian’s spell on the sidelines, Alonso said this week: ‘It’s especially [frustrating] for him. He came with huge energy, huge desire to enjoy his game in the Premier League.
‘He had a very good pre-season and a few days before the first game against Fulham, he picked up an injury.
‘It’s part of the life of a football player to come back from injury and we will need him for sure. He has great potential and will add a lot of good qualities we need in the team.’
Chelsea host Hull City in the Premier League and there remains a chance Palestra could feature in the squad for the first time.