Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans has turned his potential signing attentions elsewhere after a Championship striker decided against a move to League Two.
Speaking last week, the gaffer told the local media at One Call Stadium that the Stags were preparing club-record bid for a frontman as he looks to add the finishing touches to his squad.
And despite the Stags' bid being accepted by the club, the striker – rumoured to be Sheffield United frontman James Hanson – has turned down the move.
"The latest is the bid was accepted but the player does not want to play in League Two from the Championship," the gaffer said.
"I have to respect it, I don't always agree with it, because I always think you have to go and play football, but I think the lad concerned will have different options, perhaps League One but certainly more in [League] Two.
"We made our bid; the chairman was happy to pay the money it was going to take to get him out of his club, but I've spoken to his manager this morning and he said he had a long chat with the player over the weekend but he just doesn't want to go and play in League Two.
"I've spoken to [the player's] manager this morning and he said he had a long chat with the player over the weekend but he just doesn't want to go and play in League Two."
"We're trying to do some business and we're not in a position to confirm whether it's one player or the other. We've been linked with several strikers – some are close on the money and others are miles away."
The boss is still working hard to add to his squad and he is set to meet more players' representatives this evening, before taking a side to face Peterborough United in a behind-closed-doors game tomorrow.
"I've got one or two meetings with agents – that's how it works these days – as long as the football clubs that those players are at are happy for you to have a chat with their agents.
"I've got a couple of meetings that are lined up for this evening and tomorrow, so I'll be doing that, plus we've got a [behind]-closed-doors match down at Peterborough tomorrow afternoon.
"It will be the players that need some game-time [involved at Peterborough]. I don't need to sit here and tell you who's not up with the minutes since the start of the season but every one of them will get some game-time."
The gaffer also provided an update on the fitness of winger Alex MacDonald and defender David Mirfin, who both missed Saturday's victory over Forest Green Rovers.
"Mirfin is fine. If we'd have been playing on Saturday and it was 10 games in and not another game for another week, David could've played. He's fine, he's trained today.
"MacDonald has been training for a few days now and he'll play a part at Peterborough. We hope that Alex can come through. He'll probably play for 45 minutes or an hour at Peterborough, we've not quite decided.
"We'll probably judge it on the day to see how he's feeling at the 45-minute mark, but he's trained for three or four days now and he was in full contact on Friday and today."
Supporters can view the manager's full news conference by logging in to iFollow Stags.
