Town’s attempt to sign Preston striker Jordan Hugill looks to be over with the Lilywhites unwilling to sell the 24-year-old, according to Blues boss Mick McCarthy, who still continues to search for a new frontman ahead of Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.
Asked whether he had given up on signing Hugill, who scored Preston’s last-gasp equaliser against the Blues at Deepdale on Saturday, Town having had a second bid of £2 million for the former Port Vale man rebuffed a few days earlier, McCarthy said: "I think they gave up on us, they’re not selling him.”
Could there be further additions to his squad before the window closes? "Possibly, we’re still trying but as I said right at the very start of it, it’s going to be difficult and that’s just how it’s proven to be.”
Has he had any feedback on the offers he made last week? "The only feedback we’ve had is a no.”
A replacement for Daryl Murphy, who was sold to Newcastle at the end of the August window for £3 million was top of the January wish-list, so would McCarthy be frustrated if one wasn’t signed before tomorrow’s deadline?
"I kind of face reality, me. I’m fairly pragmatic,” the Blues manager added. "We’ve tried our best. I don’t get into that mode, I get into thinking that whatever we’ve got we’ll get the best out of them and make do with what we’ve got rather than thinking [it would be frustrating].
"I’m not like that. I just think it’s done, get on with it, we’ll crack on and work with what we’ve got, as I’ve always done. And done pretty successfully, to be honest.”
He says he’s continue to work on making that addition in the time remaining: "But I’ll have to stop scouting at a quarter to eight tomorrow night.”
McCarthy says he knows nothing of reported loan interest from Coventry for midfielder Jonathan Douglas - "It’s nothing I’ve heard anything about but if Russell Slade rings me up, I’ll speak to him” - and says he's not aware of anyone chasing any of his players.
"No idea, I haven’t got a clue,” he said. "If there is nobody’s telling me. Everybody and sundry is promoting Tom Lawrence to go here, there and everywhere and we all know that he’s signed and it has to be agreed by us, Leicester and him and that’s not going to happen."
McCarthy says he’d be up for sending some of his younger players out on loan with midfielder Kundai Benyu set to extend his stay with Vanarama National League Aldrershot.
"Yes, I might send some of them on loan,” he continued. "It’s certainly benefiting Kundai.
"I was speaking to [Shots manager] Gary Waddock today and they’re going keep him, we’ve got a 24-hour recall on him and hopefully towards the end of the season if we’re neither going up nor down then we can blood some of the young ‘uns and Kundai will be better off having had two, three, maybe four months playing in the National League.
"They keep taking him month to month and when I spoke to Gary Waddock today I said we’ll just keep it the same.
"It wouldn’t make any difference if we said to the end of the season because we’ve still got a 24-hour recall. They just keep turning it over every month. I’m fine whichever way they want it.”
Regarding striker Leon Best, who he stated last week wouldn’t play for the club again, McCarthy says he’s unlikely to leave during January as he has to undergo minor surgery.
"No, I doubt it, he’s got to have a little op on a groin operation he had before he came here,” the Town boss added. "That’s just got to be tidied up, that won’t be a long thing. But very unlikely.”