Town and Notts County are continuing to hold talks regarding keeper Bartosz Bialkowski’s proposed move to the Blues.
The deal looked close to completion towards the end of last week but has stalled in recent days and the Pole remains at Meadow Lane.
County were initially willing to allow the 27-year-old, who has a year left on what is a significant contract for a League One club, to move on a free transfer to free up cash, but are now understood to be after a small fee, while the Blues are determined to keep to the original arrangement.
Earlier in the summer, the Magpies were reported to want a low six-figure sum for the former Southampton man, who was previously on loan with the Blues late on in the 2008/09 season without making a first-team appearance.
Despite the current impasse, it’s likely that the deal will still go through in the next few days — personal terms would appear to be a formality — but perhaps not in time for Bialkowski, who previously worked with Town keeper-coach Malcolm Webster while with the Saints, to join up with the squad in Ireland.
Notts County play their first friendly of pre-season away against East Midlands Counties League side Arnold Town this evening with Bialkowski starting, along with former Blues striker Ronan Murray.
Notts: Bialkowski, Thompson, Adams, Smith, Mullins, Hollis, Balmy, Wroe, Spencer, Murray, Tempest.
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) July 9, 2014