THE deal to sign Shola Ameobi has collapsed after the striker failed a medical.

Derek Davis

THE deal to sign Shola Ameobi has collapsed after the striker failed a medical.

Scans revealed a hamstring tear and Ameobi is unlikely to play again before the transfer deadline day on September 1.

Therefore Ipswich Town have pulled out of the deal, but have spoken to Newcastle United about the possibility of reviving their interest once he is fit.

It is possible the Blues could take Ameobi on loan until January and then make the deal permanent but at a vastly reduced price than they have currently agreed.

Ameobi picked up the latest hamstring injury in pre-season but had already suffered a similar one last season before going to Stoke City on loan for six games.

Blues boss Jim Magilton is worried about signing a player while he is unfit, especially with the Shefki Kuqi experience towards the end of last season when he arrived from Palace but struggled with a hamstring problem.

Magilton said: “It's disappointing, but you have to be careful with hamstring injuries and we don't want a repeat of last season when Shefki Kuqi joined us and suffered a hamstring injury in his first game."

Ameobi is in the last year of his contract and would be allowed to leave as a free agent next summer and may choose to renegotiate.

It is even possible he could go elsewhere with Norwich City boss Glenn Roeder watching the situation carefully.

If the Canaries could get him on a free next year then they would be in a better position to meet Ameobi's personal terms.

Town could still go ahead and make the move permanent in this window but would be paying a player around £15,000 a week while he was out injured for what could be as long as another month to six weeks.

Until Town sign a new player they will not be letting Alan Lee leave for Crystal Palace or Preston, while Stoke have yet to show their hand regarding Jon Walters.

Town have been keen to bring in an experienced striker and turned to Ameobi after it was clear David Nugent was still refusing to join Town from Portsmouth.

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp is livid that Nugent would not go and instead had to sell Pedro Mendes to rangers for £3m.

Redknapp said: “Pedro is a player I did not want to lose but had to sell because other players at this club are happy to sit in a comfort zone.

“We have had good offers from good clubs for players but they refuse to budge.”

Ipswich have been linked with Celtic striker Chris Killen but no bid has been made.

Magilton is still keen to sign German defender Moritz Volz but has yet not succeeded in persuading the Fulham full back to drop down a division and leave London.