Rotherham United boss Paul Warne gives an update on the search for a new striker

Speaking earlier this week, Millers chief Paul Warne said he was hopeful of bringing in a new forward ahead of Saturday's home game with Reading and felt that the deal was 'pretty close.'

But the situation appears to have now changed ahead of the weekend – in another transfer blow for the Millers.

Warne, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, said: "I was really confident on Wednesday night but prior to this conversation, I have heard Chinese whispers he has gone somewhere else.

"I will try and get hold of the agent and find out exactly what happened. It doesn't look that positive at this moment in time.

"It's like smoke signals coming through. That is my gut feeling. I haven't been 100 per cent told. That's what it feels like, I have heard rumblings he might have gone elsewhere.

"Of course it is frustrating when you don't get the players you want and you've put all the work in. It's even more frustrating when you get to the last step and it gets taken away from you.

"What can I do? I will find out the ins and outs of it.

"Of course you get frustrated, you give your heart and soul to try and sign players and give everything you can but sometimes it just isn't meant to be. You go again and move on."