Ghana and Bristol City winger Albert Adomah's proposed move away from club  failed to materialize after he told his agent he does not want to leave Bristol City for a rival Championship club.
Crystal Palace were expected to table a third and final offer for the 25-year-old winger in a last-ditch attempt to prize him away from Ashton Gate before Thursday night's 11pm transfer deadline.
But even if the Eagles had met the asking price – their first two bids fell well short of City's estimation – and their offer was accepted by the Ashton Gate board of directors, the final decision will still rest with Adomah.
And the Londoner says, when he leaves City, it will only be to join a Premier League club.
Adomah's agent, Tony Finnigan, thinks it unlikely the player will leave Ashton Gate before last night's deadline.
City's star player is currently representing Ghana at the African Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa and Finnigan claims logistical difficulties will almost certainly prevent any deal being done today.
He told the BBC: "We've had two bids from Crystal Palace and they have both been turned down.
"As far as I'm concerned, I don't think he will be gone. That is my opinion.
"Logistically, if you are in South Africa, playing in the African Nations Cup, how likely is it that he can sign for any club while there?
"I do expect an improved bid to come in from Crystal Palace today. But logistically, how could they sign this player when he is on the other side of the world?"
But he is not ruling out the possibility of Adomah moving elsewhere when the loan window opens on Friday, February 8.
As revealed in The Post earlier this week, Finnigan has been in contact with Bolton Wanderers manager Dougie Freedman and the Trotters are weighing up whether to make a move for Adomah next month.
Finnigan confirmed: "I spoke to Dougie Freedman by text yesterday and he said nothing about joining us (today). Logistically, it is just not possible.
"What could happen, is that they could agree something when the loan window opens. What they could so is a loan with a purchase price at the end of it."
But it seems Adomah will have the final say in where his future lies and he is holding out for a move to the Premier League.
Finnigan said: "What I will say on behalf of Albert Adomah is he wants to go direct to the Premiership from Bristol City.
"He is not seeking to leave the club. He is a very honest, straightforward guy and would love to go to the Premiership from Bristol City.
"I don't want Bristol City fans to think his agent is proactive in trying to move him on, because I'm not."
City fans will be delighted if Adomah, who has yet to meet new head coach Sean O'Driscoll, stays to help the club fight relegation.
But it appears increasingly likely that the former Barnet winger, who has 18 months to run on his Ashton Gate contract, will be gone in the summer irrespective of which division the Robins are playing in next season.
City directors will not want to risk a repeat of the situation that arose when striker Nicky Maynard turned down the chance to join Leicester for £6m, declined to commit his future to the Robins and then left to join West Ham for a fraction of that fee six months later.