PAUL Jewell is close to conceding defeat over his pursuit of Peterborough targets George Boyd and Paul Taylor.

The duo met with Jewell yesterday, had a tour of the facilities and passed a medical after a fee – thought to be in the region of �1.7 million – was agreed on Tuesday.

But after leaving Suffolk, both Boyd and Taylor, who we understand have the same agent, rejected the move after failing to agree personal terms.

The club and the two players are said to be some way apart and Jewell is understood to be moving onto other targets as he looks to beat tomorrow night’s 11pm deadline before the summer transfer window closes.

With Peterborough showing they are keen to sell their star players, who are both in the final year of their contract, it could be that a divisional rival makes a late move and meets their demands.

Brighton have been linked in some quarters and manager Gus Poyet said: ““I can think of six or seven possible things coming in and two or maybe four going out.

“I can say now this is the most dramatic end of a transfer window I’ve had as a manager.”

Sources close to the club say Jewell is working frantically to bring in new players, having already postponed his Huddersfield pre-match press conference until tomorrow lunch-time – a decision made before the Boyd and Taylor move collapsed.

It might be that he looks to revive the joint deal as the hours tick on, but as it stands that seems less and less likely.

* Meanwhile, we understand the move to bring Daryl Murphy back to Portman Road for a third loan spell is progressing well – with the Irishman likely to be signed in time for Saturday’s home match at Huddersfield.