Preston North End chief Peter Risdale insists they were close to a deal for Tom Cannon before Everton changed their terms.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe has been keen to re-sign the striker after last season's successful loan.
As you've seen from this transfer window, there have been a lot of players the same clubs have tried to get. In the main, I think we've got the ones we wanted," Risdale told the Lancashire Post.
"The only one we didn't was Tom Cannon, and Tom didn't go to one of those clubs rumoured to be in for him all the time we were. He went to Leicester, who've got the parachute payments and came in last Thursday. Our frustration, I suppose with Tom, was that we did a deal very early on - which was an expensive loan. Everton agreed it but said the timing would be down to them, not us. They then changed the goalposts last week, that it had to be a permanent.
"We then decided to make a bid, which was rejected. We then did another bid, which was tinkered with at their request. I have in writing, our bid being accepted by Everton and permission to talk to him. And this would've been four times our record transfer deal. Tom then phoned to say Leicester had come in and that he fancies going to them, with them favourites for promotion. To be honest, while it was devastating for us, we hadn't ignored plan B and C."