Tottenham Hotspur failed with a €40m bid for Napoli midfielder Amadou Diawara in the summer, with Carlo Ancelotti opposing his sale.
Spurs became the first Premier League side since 2003 not to make a signing in the summer transfer window when they drew a blank this summer.
But Mauricio Pochettino's side did not sit on their hands and they made attempts to take players to north London.
Napoli midfielder Diawara was one player in their sights and, according to Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, the Premier League side failed with a €40m offer.
It is claimed that Ancelotti was opposed to letting him leave.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss told Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to make sure that Diawara did not leave the club in the summer.
Diawara made a total of 27 appearances across all competitions for Napoli last season.
Despite being just 21 years old, Diawara already has 72 appearances in Italy's top flight to his name and is highly rated by Ancelotti.
