Albion's bid to sign Cambridge United striker Chris Holroyd has hit a brick wall.

The deal is unlikely to go through, according to the player’s agent.

The Seagulls have not been in direct contact with Holroyd since the weekend, when the fleet-footed former Chester forward failed to agree personal terms after the clubs had agreed a fee.

Cambridge manager Martin Ling revealed: “I have spoken to the agent and he said it doesn’t look like it is going to happen. I am sure Chris will say if he wants to speak to them again.”

Albion boss Gus Poyet is not optimistic about the move for Holroyd being completed but is still expecting some transfer activity in both directions before the window shuts at 5pm on Monday.

“There is probably frustration both ways,” he said. “The player looked excited last week. I don’t know what is going on now.

“There is still time but sometimes you have to accept that, just because you want someone, you might not get him.

“It’s a normal situation a few days before the transfer window closes. There will probably be a flurry of activity and things could happen at any time.

“It could be now or 4.30 in the afternoon on February 1st. It is quite strange, especially for the manager when you have got a game in the middle (home to Millwall) that is so important and when you want to concentrate on that. The telephone doesn’t stop ringing, so it is quite difficult.

“I wanted to do our business early. For different reasons it didn’t happen. We are getting close to the end and it’s not in our hands.

“It depends on the position at other clubs. Sometimes they want to wait, because they want to see all the options.

“I am sure in the next three or four days there are going to be players moving everywhere.”

Poyet believes he has enough quality to steer Albion out of relegation trouble after already adding Inigo Calderon, Marcos Painter and Seb Carole to the squad this month.

The Urguayan added: “The problem is the quantity of games and if you are lucky enough not to get any injuries.

“We want to move some players out as well but you have to make sure you have the right number and don’t go short. I hope something will happen.”