SOUTHEND United were unable to complete a late swoop for a League One striker tonight.

The Shrimpers had a £75,000 bid accepted for the forward, believed to be Walsall's Morgan Ferrier, only for the deal to fall through before the transfer window closed at 11pm.

And a Blues club statement confirmed the club were disappointed not to have sealed the move.

“This evening we had a £75,000 bid accepted for a striker from a Midlands-based team with the selling club keen to get the deal over the line before the 11pm transfer deadline,” said the statement.

“After intense negotiations with the player and a much-improved contract offer to his current deal we were unfortunately notified at 10.30pm that the player wasn’t going to make the move closer to his home, here at Southend United.

“We received a call from the selling club, who also shared our disappointment that the deal had fallen through.

"In view of the terms offered to the striker, who had been a target for the management team for some time, and his obvious will to move closer to home, we are perplexed that the deal was not completed.

“The January transfer window is always a tough time to sign players, but we are delighted with the signing of Stephen Humphrys on a permanent transfer, who will complement the in-form Simon Cox, as well as the emergence of Charlie Kelman and Isaac Hutchinson who both recently signed their pro-contracts.

“We did have a number of loan targets but the reality is we want to strengthen the squad with people who want to be part of our future, but unfortunately those targets are much easier to acquire in the summer transfer window.

"Ron Martin, Chris Powell and the backroom staff are disappointed with player’s decision this evening but equally it gives many young players the chance to make a full breakthrough into the first team squad.”