Cardiff City have dropped out of the race to sign Aberdeen midfielder Jonny Hayes.
The English Championship Bluebirds, who had two bids for the Republic of Ireland international rejected in January, had tabled a £750,000 bid that could rise to £1.2million.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has grown frustrated by the lack of progress with the Dons and is understood to have withdrawn the offer for the 29-year-old.
Celtic remain favourites to sign Hayes with Hoops midfielder Ryan Christie likely to return to Pittodrie on loan.
Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp, who watched Hayes score in last month’s 2-1 Scottish Cup final defeat by Celtic, is also interested in the Dons player.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, have agreed a new deal that will see Saltire Energy remain as club sponsor until May 2019.
The oil firm haS been the Dons’ official sponsor since 2014.
