HULL City's bid to sign Charlie Austin is over after a £4.5m deal for the Burnley striker dramatically collapsed last night.
City had looked on course to land the 24-year-old forward when agreeing a fee with the Clarets over the weekend, a deal that would have made him the club's second most expensive signing.
However, the Mail understands manager Steve Bruce must now resume his attacking search following a bitterly disappointing day at the KC Stadium.
Austin travelled to East Yorkshire yesterday morning to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with the Tigers, but it is understood unforeseen obstacles were encountered late in the evening.
Although details are yet to be clarified with club officials so far unavailable for comment, sources last night indicated to the Mail that the transfer unraveled at the 11th hour and the deal will not be revived.
Update, 8.45am: Steve Bruce confirms Charlie Austin deal "a non-starter" after problem with medical.Update, 9.30am: Hull City and Burnley statements on collapse of Charlie Austin deal.
City are expected to make an announcement on Austin at some stage today but fears will inevitably surround the striker's problematic shoulder. Austin has dislocated his shoulder three times in the last four years and although it is a problem he has not suffered with since 2011, City may have regarded the historic injury as one they could not risk with the financial stakes high. While Austin was understood to be upset by yesterday's events with the chance of a top-flight debut passing him by, news of the collapsed deal will also rock Bruce, even though he is believed to have been fully consulted in the decision to pull out. Despite sounding Celtic's Gary Hooper out with a £4m bid last month, he had recently highlighted Austin as his preferred choice to spearhead's City forward line in the Premier League. A month of negotiations between the two parties saw Burnley standing firm on their £7m valuation, but City were eventually able to find a middle ground with an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £4.5m on Sunday. The protracted chase has now ultimately proved fruitless and leaves Bruce back at square one in a department most in need of strengthening. City were yesterday back in full training for the first time since winning promotion as Championship runners-up in May but, despite landing five new arrivals in the shape of George Boyd, Ahmed Elmohamady, Maynor Figueroa, Curtis Davies and Allan McGregor for a combined £6m, the much-needed boost to his attacking ranks is still to be resolved. Although a fully-fit Sone Aluko will offer some comfort, Bruce has consistently sought at least two new attackers ahead of the Premier League kick-off at Chelsea. It remains to be seen if Bruce re-enters the race to sign Hooper, who like Austin has just 12 months left on his deal, or opt for value on the foreign market for targets such as Genk's Ilombe Mboyo, who has been considered.
Update, 8.45am: Steve Bruce confirms Charlie Austin deal "a non-starter" after problem with medical.Update, 9.30am: Hull City and Burnley statements on collapse of Charlie Austin deal.
City are expected to make an announcement on Austin at some stage today but fears will inevitably surround the striker's problematic shoulder. Austin has dislocated his shoulder three times in the last four years and although it is a problem he has not suffered with since 2011, City may have regarded the historic injury as one they could not risk with the financial stakes high. While Austin was understood to be upset by yesterday's events with the chance of a top-flight debut passing him by, news of the collapsed deal will also rock Bruce, even though he is believed to have been fully consulted in the decision to pull out. Despite sounding Celtic's Gary Hooper out with a £4m bid last month, he had recently highlighted Austin as his preferred choice to spearhead's City forward line in the Premier League. A month of negotiations between the two parties saw Burnley standing firm on their £7m valuation, but City were eventually able to find a middle ground with an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £4.5m on Sunday. The protracted chase has now ultimately proved fruitless and leaves Bruce back at square one in a department most in need of strengthening. City were yesterday back in full training for the first time since winning promotion as Championship runners-up in May but, despite landing five new arrivals in the shape of George Boyd, Ahmed Elmohamady, Maynor Figueroa, Curtis Davies and Allan McGregor for a combined £6m, the much-needed boost to his attacking ranks is still to be resolved. Although a fully-fit Sone Aluko will offer some comfort, Bruce has consistently sought at least two new attackers ahead of the Premier League kick-off at Chelsea. It remains to be seen if Bruce re-enters the race to sign Hooper, who like Austin has just 12 months left on his deal, or opt for value on the foreign market for targets such as Genk's Ilombe Mboyo, who has been considered.
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