QPR’s Conor Washington was the striker the Blues were trying to sign on deadline day to replace Daryl Murphy, who departed for Newcastle United over the weekend.

On Tuesday Town had an offer of £1 million for midfielder-turned-striker Marley Watkins rebuffed by Barnsley and the bid made for Northern Ireland international Washington is understood to have been significantly in advance of that figure with QPR believed to be looking to recoup a significant proportion of the £2.5 million they paid Peterborough for the 24-year-old in January.

However, the clubs were unable to agree a valuation, while QPR were also keen to add to their squad before permitting Chatham-born Washington, who was previously with St Ives Town and Newport County, to move on.

Washington has made nine starts and 11 sub appearances since moving to Loftus Road, scoring his only goal in the 2-2 EFL Cup draw with Swindon earlier this month.

As reported last night, another potential signing became available closer to the 11pm deadline but there wasn’t time to get that deal done and manager Mick McCarthy opted to wait until January to look for an additional striker.

Earlier in the day the Blues had added Jonny Williams for a fourth loan spell, the Crystal Palace man joining on a season-long loan, as Leicester’s Tom Lawrence did the previous day.

We understand the outgoings relating to those deals, including loan fees and a significant proportion of their wages, as well as the addition of Leon Best equalled around two-thirds of the £3 million fee received for Murphy, although not all that figure was due up front.

In addition to the fee received from Newcastle, the 33-year-old will have been one of the bigger earners at the club and his exit, along with that of Cameron Stewart, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent yesterday, will have reduced the wage bill.

Portsmouth attacking midfielder Kyle Bennett, the younger brother of Blackburn's Elliott Bennett, who Town were eyeing earlier in the window, was also amongst the Blues’ late transfer window targets, although their interest in the 25-year-old one-time Wolves trainee may have cooled after the additions of Williams and Lawrence.

We understand Adam Reach, who joined Sheffield Wednesday from Middlesbrough for £5 million yesterday, was a player the Blues showed interest in earlier in the window. The fee ultimately splashed out by the Owls would have been well above and beyond what Town would have been prepared to pay.

Meanwhile, midfielder Conor Grant, who has missed the last three games with a groin problem, returned to action in the 2-1 U21s friendly defeat to Southend yesterday.

Photo: Action Images

iaintaylorx added 12:48 - Sep 1 Would have been a great addition!! To be honest, the players we have brought in all have good technical ability and we might see the ball played on the ground a lot more this season. I have no doubt we'll miss Murphy's presence from set plays and crosses, but we'll definitely be up there by January and then it'll be exciting! COYB!
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The_Romford_Blue added 12:50 - Sep 1 Both would have been great signings. Adam reach was simply unrealistic to think we would get him. Far too pricey. But we clearly are trying to change our style to play better football and the signings we've made (as well as the attempted signings of Washington and Bennett) further that. Must remember as well we've already signed 2 fantastic youngsters permanently in Webster and Ward. Hope for the season for us to continue playing on the floor. The future is bright Too 6 is definetely achievable. BELIEVE!

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iaintaylorx added 12:57 - Sep 1 Also, we kept Bart, which is a signing it itself!
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dubblue added 13:00 - Sep 1 Why is it that hen we look at incomings and outgoings we factor in the wages/agents fees of new players but not on the savings on wages of players who left. I assume Murph was on a higher salary that what we are paying Best. At least I would hope so. Let's compare like with like. "Washington has made nine starts and 11 sub appearances since moving to Loftus Road, scoring his only goal in the 2-2 EFL Cup draw with Swindon earlier this month." That form hardly suggests he would have a replacement for Murphy?

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hoppy added 13:01 - Sep 1 Has it been revealed who the 'other striker that became available late on' was? Washington sounds as though he could've been a decent addition - and will be interesting to see if we follow that interest up further in January, but what's done is done, we didn't get him (or another striker in yesterday) rightly or wrongly, so we can't do anything about that now. We've got to work on things a bit differently, and between now and January, MM and Marcus will need to identify and have a clear idea of who we're going to get in January, be realistic about it and make sure we do strengthen then. By not doing so in a panic on deadline day yesterday it does keep the powder dry, and what we need or who we want may actually be different come next window than who we were targeting this window. We'll see. For now, this is what we've got... Some exciting additions have been made this summer - as we've already seen with Ward, and what a steal he is looking to be! Let's get behind the boys and make sure that by January it's not too late to do anything but give us a boost to continue what will have hopefully been a great first half of the season.

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hoppy added 13:01 - Sep 1 Has it been revealed who the 'other striker that became available late on' was? Washington sounds as though he could've been a decent addition - and will be interesting to see if we follow that interest up further in January, but what's done is done, we didn't get him (or another striker in yesterday) rightly or wrongly, so we can't do anything about that now. We've got to work on things a bit differently, and between now and January, MM and Marcus will need to identify and have a clear idea of who we're going to get in January, be realistic about it and make sure we do strengthen then. By not doing so in a panic on deadline day yesterday it does keep the powder dry, and what we need or who we want may actually be different come next window than who we were targeting this window. We'll see. For now, this is what we've got... Some exciting additions have been made this summer - as we've already seen with Ward, and what a steal he is looking to be! Let's get behind the boys and make sure that by January it's not too late to do anything but give us a boost to continue what will have hopefully been a great first half of the season.

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hampstead_blue added 13:02 - Sep 1 Come back in January and see what gives then. Am not really happy with our strikers. Only Pitman has a recent track record of goals. Maybe this will be the change that Sears needs to bring him back to life again.
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hoppy added 13:02 - Sep 1 No idea why that posted twice. Apologies.
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JimmyP45 added 13:08 - Sep 1 Hope the word is kept and we do actually spend money in January if we need to. ME will hope that everyone forgets this in January or that we don't need to bring anyone in by then.
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Ferguson added 13:09 - Sep 1 Thanks for letting us know who the targets were Phil. Not too bothered we missed out on those two to be honest, and while I'd have loved him to have stayed I'm pleased that Murphy's our only significant loss. BUT who was the mystery signing on deadline that we couldn't get..........a former Blue returning to he fold from Derby, or Palace...or Boro ? Or maybe Murph changed his mind and was trying to come back !

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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:13 - Sep 1 Ok so can we at least admit the club really made an effort to get more players in and that Loans are not as cheap as we would like to think? Personally whilst I would have welcomed most of the signings above I'm still pretty happy with out business. If JW can get and stay fit we have every chance, Pits and Freddie to start up front plz
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mow_the_lawn added 13:26 - Sep 1 I'd have liked to have seen Lewis McGugan and possibly Darren Bent but suspect wages would mean they were never real contenders. Other than that I think this has been a good window for us. We'd have been stupid to turn down £3m for a 33 year old striker who peaked 2 years ago. And it forces us to play to Pitman's strengths too. I think this season will see him score plenty if our midfield create the chances.

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teenagetractorboy added 13:31 - Sep 1 He would have been a great addition, but we should have realised the writing was on the wall when we knew 'Marcus was negotiating directly'…
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marco007 added 13:32 - Sep 1 Is it just me or is anyone else getting sick of the ridiculous transfer fees?? £5m plus for okay championship players, £20m plus for overseas players nobody has heard of, and crazy money for playears that are nowhere near a premiership first team place! At the same time ticket prices and merchandise is exorbitant ! Whilst at grassroots level we struggle for pitches:( We are being taken for mugs !

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cornishblu added 13:32 - Sep 1 This is bonkers ....why do people post on here saying this would have been a good signing when he has scored once in 20 appearances and that was against lower league opposition . I've got two legs two arms and a pulse ... Only scored once but that was when I was eighteen and looking back on it I think it was more a sympathy snog rather than an I love you one......but if this was a dating website I think I would get plenty of suitors !! COYB

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BlueNomad added 13:35 - Sep 1 So QPR spent heavily on a player (as they do) in January, it hasn't worked out but they want to recoup as much as possible on their mistake. If we had met those demands we would have been subsidising that mistake. Well done ME for not doing so!
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bedsitfc added 13:36 - Sep 1 I would be gob smacked if best hasn't got at least 10 goals before January. Personally I think selling murph and getting best signed is great business
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DJ27 added 13:41 - Sep 1 The Reading fixture is going to be the defining moment of Mick's tenure. Almost a year ago to the day we got spanked and Mick abandoned his more adventurous style. Roll on 12 months and with no Murphy, we will hopefully see a more composed game and a complete reversal of the score is on the cards. We will win 5-1 - Pitman hattrick, you heard it here first. Team will be. Pitman Lawrence Bishop Ward Grant(if fit) If not Douglas Skuse Knudsen Berra Webster Chambo Bart

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 13:42 - Sep 1 I'm relatively happy with the transfer deals done. I'd love to see us go for Chris Martin in January...proven goal scorer at this level and is s big lad. Not sure how much he'd cost...probably £5m+ which would put him out of our range I guess. One can dream I s'pose!
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runningout added 13:42 - Sep 1 not bad.. think we should have rocked the boat, and took a punt on Bentner. He may be a plonker and asking for too much, but him and Best would wake defenders up
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dawoolah added 13:42 - Sep 1 Can't say I'm too bothered about not getting Washington, not at that price with those stats. As other people have said, I think we'll do OK with what we've got and am confident we'll see more goals from Pitman and Sears(played in position). I think Best on a free is a steal and hope he proves the doubters wrong with some goals too.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 13:46 - Sep 1 To be honest, reading this makes me less disappointed we missed out. I'd have taken Washington when he was at Peterborough but we would never have been able to afford him then. Now I look and wonder whether he's actually going to cut it at this level given QPR didn't seem too fussed about offloading him so soon, and if so, I wouldn't have wanted us to splurge a lot if cash on him anyway. Tbh, I don't know who I would've wanted to replace Murphy. It's certainly not as simple as just finding another striker for a similar value. Hard to replace someone who's been pretty integral at your club for the best part of six years and I while we can all pick random strikers who 'would've been good' in our eyes I can't say any names leapt to mind who would actually fit the mould. In some respects, I'm not convinced they did for the club either.

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Currie10 added 13:51 - Sep 1 Same as you cornish thank christ for that
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Currie10 added 13:52 - Sep 1 Lewis McGugan certainly not after the fall out with Chambers. Don't want that melt anywhere near Portman Road.
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FINIJIGEORGE added 14:17 - Sep 1 just check out our next 6 fixtures, god blimey they aren't easy are they fellas (and lasses)!! Anyone know how i can change my username? only gone and spelt Finidi George wrong! what a muppet. Up the mick maaaaaaah!!!!
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