Brian McDermott admitted his frustration today that his mystery fourth-target looks likely to be staying put at his present club. Having landed Noel Hunt five-weeks ago, McDermott spoke eagerly about his landing his next signing but nothing has come to fruition and now it seems likely the player who is believed to be a former employee of tomorrow's opponents Leicester City will not be joining Leeds.

The mystery man is believed to be Matt Mills, McDermott sold the 27-year-old to Leicester City two-years ago for £5m however his career faltered at the King Power Stadium and now he is at Bolton. Despite an indifferent season last term, Trotter's boss Dougie Freedman seems keen to keep him at the Reebok.

McDermott said: “It’s proving to be difficult that deal. At some point one has to move on. It’s been going on for quite a long time now. But I haven’t moved on yet, not completely.

“In this particular situation it’s a club-to-club issue. The club doesn’t want to sell the player and we were in a position where we thought they would. The club are now saying they won’t.

“The player’s agent thought there was a situation where the player would be sold but that’s not proving to be the case. The club don’t want to do the deal.”

Having seemingly hit a brick wall with Mills, who Leeds did enquire about earlier this summer, the speculators have moved on to Brighton's Gordon Greer and Manchester United's Scott Wootton as possible targets for McDermott.

Whilst it seems that GFH capital, the clubs current majority shareholders are keeping a tight reign on both the wage budget and transfer funds, there was a hint earlier this week they may make some additional funds available. However with Matt Mills valued at £1m and on £25k a week it seems very unlikely we could stretch to that kind of investment unless of course McDermott moves somebody out.

Having snubbed Middlesbrough's overtures towards Ross McCormack so far, it clearly seems that there will be very little activity to write home about in the current transfer window before it shuts in around three-weeks time.

Photo: Action Images

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