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."

Photo: Action Images

DJpatrovers1 added 13:22 - Feb 25 well thats a shame, was getting really excited for him to potentially sign...cant understand why hed want to stay there when he isnt palying and would get games week in week out with us with the POTENTIAL to go up again... oh well, time to concentrate on sunday now!! COYB
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Jimmy86 added 13:24 - Feb 25 Well have fun warming the bench, not getting games then. Don't want anyone who wouldn't wanna be here. Move on, hopefully Mick has other targets in mind, he made a point of saying he'd been talking to lots of other players, let's hope he has
7

Bandbox_Blue added 13:24 - Feb 25 So he's obviously got something sorted for next season and is going to sit it out at Leicester and doesn't want to risk getting injured.
4

emergencylime added 13:25 - Feb 25 You could argue that those overseas clubs watching him in action for a top championship side rather than Leicester U21s would be a better showcase of his skills, but at least it gives time to look for alternatives rather than be disappointed at the eleventh hour.
1

Superfrans added 13:25 - Feb 25 His deal is up at the end of this season - any loan move he makes will be a fair indication of where he'll be next season. So I suspect he'll head off on loan somewhere else - overseas, if that's where he wants to be next season.
3

paulcooperisgod added 13:34 - Feb 25 Oh well he sounds like he could be a bad apple anyway.....move on
5

bellazzurri79 added 13:39 - Feb 25 Ffs
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oldegold added 13:39 - Feb 25 Let's face it lads..if he couldn't get in the Leicester team. Make do with our players and maybe give one or two the chance to push for a starting place.COYB !
3

hoppy added 13:46 - Feb 25 Don't know why Phil didnt use the headline "Anthony decides to Knockaert on the head after clubs agree deal"...
10

kingburley4ever added 13:48 - Feb 25 Sounds a bit of a spoilt brat to me, better off without him.
-1

blueherts added 13:51 - Feb 25 Vardy - anyone ?
1

pablo123 added 13:51 - Feb 25 Ffs , this is the worst news !! The lad is class , just what we needed , bloody typical
5

Michael11 added 13:57 - Feb 25 Gutted. Was really excited about this signing but not entirely shocked. If this is the calibre of player we're looking at and realistically looking at signing then I'm still optimistic. We'll just have to utilise what we have for Sunday unfortunately.
3

OldClactonBlue added 13:58 - Feb 25 Better off without him? You can't be serious. Don't you watch us play?
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warktheline added 13:59 - Feb 25 well said oldegold, lets move on, big week ahead.
0

warktheline added 14:06 - Feb 25 wish we could find another J.Parr to play right or left midfield. The other one would play right back. Extremely positive player, always looking to get forward. For me, he would be one of the first names down on the team sheet..... Mick, make sure he starts on Sunday.
11

Lightningboy added 14:09 - Feb 25 Don't think he has the right attitude from what i've seen over the last few seasons. Would rather see (a fully fit) Jonny Williams back here.
4

irishtim added 14:12 - Feb 25 Think Connolly can be just as good if not better for us.
2

PJH added 14:18 - Feb 25 Irishtim-I was thinking that this news could be a boost for Connolly. I have never seen him play but all at PR obviously impressed with him.
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Bergholtblue added 14:20 - Feb 25 Had a touch of DeJa Vu there. Just like the old times of the Keane & Jewell era being linked with an exciting player only to find that they didn't want to come. With K&J this was a regular occurrence but is this a first for Mick? Still I can understand that if he can't get a game in the Premier League he would wan t to move back to his homeland. As long as that is the reason and he isn't about to sign for one of our rivals.

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warktheline added 14:30 - Feb 25 irishtim has high hopes for the boy. Plenty of potential by all accounts.
1

irishtim added 14:37 - Feb 25 @Pjh & warkline. He is like a bolt of lightining and can take players on. Really exciting prospect.
4

StowTractorBoy added 14:37 - Feb 25 I thought there might be something up when MM told Brenner on Radio Suffolk last night that no one would be coming in this week.
2

PJH added 14:53 - Feb 25 Irishtim/warktheline-I was hoping that we made the game safe last night early enough to give him 20 minutes or so,but having seemingly got game sewn up at 2-0 and then 3-1 it was not possible.
1

RaymondovicBlue added 14:56 - Feb 25 BART PARR CHAMBERS BERRA MINGS SKUSE BISHOP BRU CONNOLY SEARS MURPHY I DOUBT
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