BARNSLEY boss Danny Wilson has claimed Blackburn Rovers’ transfer embargo stopped him from signing John O’Sullivan.

The League One outfit made an offer for the young midfielder earlier this month after he returned to Ewood Park following an impressive loan spell in League Two with Accrington Stanley.

Wilson stated he had had a deal in place with his counterpart Gary Bowyer.

But he said Bowyer pulled the plug on it after Rovers became one of three Championship clubs to be hit by a ‘FFP embargo’ for failing Financial Fair Play.

Wilson said: “Well it’s a strange one. Everything was sorted and agreed.

“Now their manager’s decided he doesn’t want to lose anyone because of the embargo, which I totally understand.”

O’Sullivan captained Rovers U21s in their U21s Premier League Cup quarter-final victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old, who has made one first-team appearance for Bowyer’s side, came off with a hamstring injury.

O’Sullivan, who has also attracted interest from other League One clubs, is out of contract in the summer.

“I really don’t know if we’ll have to move on to other targets but we do know his contractual situation,” Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield.

“That obviously changes the dynamic if the window shuts and we don’t have him but should it come to it I’d be happy to go for the rest of the season with what we have.”