Cardiff City's move to sign Stoke City striker Sam Surridge is likely to be off as Nottingham Forest look to hijack a deal to sign the striker permanently, WalesOnline has been told.
The Bluebirds were confident in landing the Potters forward on loan in a bid to replace Kieffer Moore, who is bound for a permanent switch to Bournemouth.
We were told Cardiff were hopeful of getting the deal over the line but still had some final details to thrash out before the move could be sealed.
However, at the last gasp, Forest have intervened and tabled a bid for a permanent deal for Surridge, seemingly scuppering Cardiff's chances of landing the 23-year-old.
Forest boss Steve Cooper is a huge admirer of Surridge, having signed the striker during his time at Swansea City.
Cooper was understood to be in the market for a forward on deadline day after striker Lewis Grabban limped off against Cardiff City in the 2-1 win for the Bluebirds on Sunday afternoon.
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“We’re not sure about the extent of Lewis’ injury yet. He’s in a boot and he’s in quite a bit of pain,” Cooper said after Forest's defeat.
“We’ll have to get him scanned in the next 12 or 24 hours and see how he is.
“I think it was his ankle. He’s not in great shape in the dressing room."
Asked if the injury to Grabban might prompt action in the transfer window, Cooper added: "Maybe. We'll have to wait and see. It's quite late in the window.
"Who knows how badly injured they are? It's a difficult one to say at the moment."
Forest have also been linked to Bristol City forward Antoine Semenyo, with the Midlands club understood to have money to spend on deadline day.
Cardiff, however, are only in the loan market.
The Bluebirds are currently exploring other options to replace Moore.
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