Blackburn Rovers look set to pass on bringing Stoke City striker James Beattie back to Ewood Park.
Beattie's future with the Potters has been a constant source of speculation ever since his infamous dressing-room clash with boss Tony Pulis back in December.
While the public line from the Britannia Stadium is that the matter is now resolved, Beattie has found himself on the periphery ever since.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is desperately looking for an experienced marksman but he appears reluctant to part with £2 million Stoke are demanding for a player who is now in the twilight of his career.
Fulham, West Brom and Celtic have also shown interest but are put off by the price tag.
It seems clubs would prefer either a loan deal or a reduced up-front fee augmented by potential add-ons based on goals scored.
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beat this, manchester around 1 year, 10 months ago