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

Lightningboy added 14:29 - Sep 1 Not so bothered now seeing as it was Washington. Can't believe some of the prices being paid - upto £7m for Adam Reach!...jeeeez.
3

braveblue added 14:43 - Sep 1 We would not pay enough. Simple. Despite the money in we will go half a season without a Murphy replacement. Shows the real level of ambition. Please don't repeat this nonsense about a few wages equalling two thirds of the fee. Take off Murphy's wages and you get half of that back. Include the others who have left and we are fairly neutral. Another fee in which has not been reinvested. Wonder if Milne will be brave enough to say this?

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Ferguson added 14:48 - Sep 1 re Values of players. It's a market. Simple as. I guess every one of those values goes down on a balance sheet as an asset, with profits and losses. So logically, if that's the case, it's in Football's interest as an industry to increase the value of players all the time. By the same token, clubs spend as little as poss on their stadium - because like cars they tend to depreciate in value all the time. And which league you're in determines in part the value of your players - in the same way that a house in a better postcode or a racehorse in a winning stable will be more expensive. Look how Ty Mings value went from pocket money to millions in no time. Same player. Different League..There's even a formula in the Premier that shows how much clubs need to spend to go up one League place season by season - a factor that has affected Arsenal in recent seasons as their supporters know. Any accountants out there who can confirm ?

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TimmyH added 14:48 - Sep 1 Went up a step to Championship level in January and has scored once this year for Northern Ireland so no great shakes there...
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ArnieMsBigToe added 15:26 - Sep 1 I think MM and TC may have decided that with the departure of Murphy, a change in tactics is necessary. There has been many complaints about hoof ball with Murphy the target. Now, with the the likes of Ward, Grant, Lawrence and Joniesta added to the mix, and the Bish, we may start to play through the middle on the floor. COYB
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Keaneish added 15:55 - Sep 1 What??? For those 3 players we spent two-thirds of the £3 million fee? Surely its more like one-third? AND, if that is the case, why would we sign Best if it jeopardized not signing Washington??? Washington would have been a great addition in my view. Best, quite frankly isn't that inspiring! I was relatively happy with the signing of Lawrence and Williams but its a little tainted reading this article. Also disappointed that again, we haven't dug deep enough to give McCarthy the man he wants - rinse and repeat. Oh well.

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BlueMachines added 17:14 - Sep 1 It wouldn't matter if was Messi. Bottom line is we didn't sign anyone so we will have to do with what we have.
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happybeingblue added 17:36 - Sep 1 we should have gone for ricky lambert just watch him bang the goals in for cardiff now , not bothered we didnt get washington tbh, will grigg would have been a better bet for me... same old same old though should have put some £ on us not signing anyone, no wonder we are the longest serving team in this league.. give mick a chance evans !
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happybeingblue added 17:43 - Sep 1 chris martin in an ipswich shirt er no thanks ... bad enough seeing trevor putney in the green and yellow :) for those who are old enough to remember
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Seasider added 18:27 - Sep 1 Not a bad window of signings,and now I know it is Washington am glad the club will have to wait until the new year to sign anybody.By that time it will allow the others to bed in,and Mick will be able to take a measured look over the next few months,and discuss the situation with his boss.
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wayway added 20:52 - Sep 1 Are we not all missing the point here, if we had proper committed owners who like all owners of other clubs are prepared to INVEST in the clubs they own then we would be able to compete instead of taking other clubs cast offs. Leon Best? Another 3M has gone straight to the bank account of Evans PLC along with the Mings money. EVANS OUT NOW
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michaeldownunder added 21:40 - Sep 1 I feel spending in Jan will depend on where we are in the league. Myself I feel we have plenty of players for a passing style of football and with Best we can also utilise the measured, not hoof, long ball over the top.
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Currie10 added 10:37 - Sep 2 Keanish - Give me best anyday over Washington. 4 goals in 10 starts in a bad side last season, free transfer. Washington has scored ONCE and would cost a fee.
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