Blues target Hayden Hackney is reported to have turned down the chance to join Town from Middlesbrough.
TWTD revealed on Tuesday that the clubs had agreed a fee of £15 million and the 23-year-old travelled to Suffolk on Thursday for talks with personal terms also having been provisionally set.
Now, according to the Northern Echo, Hackney has told Boro officials that he has opted not to make the move to the Blues.
The England U21 international was anticipating making a Premier League move this summer but with no top-flight interest so far forthcoming. It’s presumed he is hoping that changes before the window closes.
Hackney, who was left out of the squad for last week’s friendly with Rangers, is on the bench for this afternoon’s game against Deportivo La Coruna at the Riverside.
Hackney had been on Town’s radar all summer with the £15 million fee - plus a further £5 million should the Blues win promotion - having been agreed more than a week ago.
The Redcar-born schemer’s decision is likely to be behind Town’s reinvigorated interest in re-signing Jens Cajuste on loan from Napoli with Italian reports claiming a deal is close to being completed.
Hackney’s decision is also a blow to Boro, who had hoped to use the finds raised to fund other moves.