Wolves refuse to drop their price for Sunderland target Steven Fletcher.
The transfer has hit a brick wall with neither side willing to compromise, despite being locked in talks for the past four days.
Sources close to the deal said it could still go either way - the last thing a frustrated Martin O'Neill wanted to hear at this stage, says The Journal.
Sunderland are not willing to pay the £15million asking price, while Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey shows no signs of blinking.
Moxey said: "These are challenging situations for all parties but we will continue to conduct our business in a respectful manner and will honour all of our commitments.
"We hope, and expect, other parties to do likewise."