Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani admits they tried for Nicolo Zaniolo in January.
Zaniolo eventually left Roma for Galatasaray last month.
"When we approach a foreign club, a player's cost rises by 10m only because we are from the Premier League," Radrizzani said in an interview with DAZN.
"We were close to signing [Cody] Gakpo on the deadline day. I had spoken to his father. It was all done with PSV and almost done with him. Unfortunately Louis Van Gaal called him saying he should have gotten regular playing time before the World Cup.
"Three months later his value had tripled and he joined Liverpool."