Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has been forced to return to the drawing board in his search for a new striker after target Clint Mathis turned his attention back to Germany.
The United States international headed for Wearside having already received an offer from Bundesliga outfit Hannover. After spending two days training with the Black Cats, he decided to accept.
Mathis was keen to play in England, but cash-strapped Sunderland could not have hoped to meet the financial package offered in Germany, leaving McCarthy back at square one.
He continues to maintain an interest in Huddersfield's highly-rated hitman Jon Stead, but last week decided not to pursue a deal with former Bristol Rovers and Reading frontman Jamie Cureton following a short trial.