Town’s loan move for Leicester midfielder Anthony Knockaert has broken down. The 23-year-old was due to link up with the Blues later in the week with the clubs having agreed a deal.
As TWTD reported earlier in the week, Knockaert has been back in his native France for the last few days and now, having returned to the club, has decided he doesn't want to leave the Foxes.
Manager Mick McCarthy suggested that the deal might have broken down when questioned about Knockaert by Radio Suffolk following last night’s 4-2 victory over Birmingham when he said he didn’t expect anyone to sign before Sunday’s derby at Norwich
The former Guingamp man, who has struggled to win a place in the Leicester side since their promotion, is out of contract at the end of the season and is believed to be interesting a number of overseas clubs, who are entitled to sign him on a pre-contract agreement.
Knockaert is understood to believe he will be better served by remaining with a Premier League side while he searches for a new side rather than taking a drop into the Championship.
Questioned on his interest in Knockaert on Monday, McCarthy said he had made approaches for a number of other players: "I’ve spoken to lots of clubs about lots of players, if someone throws that one out.
"He’s a quality player and if I could get somebody of that quality then why wouldn’t I? But I’ve spoken to loads of people. I don’t know how these stories get out, somebody tells [someone].”
He later added: "I go back to my original comment, whether we can get anybody, if they can make us better then I would try and do it."