Neil Warnock has revealed some of Cardiff City's transfer targets did not want to join after new signing Emiliano Sala's flight disappeared over the English Channel last week.
The club-record, along with pilot David Ibbotson, are yet to be found after their plane coming from Nantes disappeared on January 21.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter with Bournemouth, Warnock described the January transfer window as "difficult" in the tragic circumstances.
"One or two of the strikers we were talking about did not really want to come in the circumstances," Warnock told a news conference on Friday.
"They didn't want to come in after what's happened. So it's been a very difficult window."
Cardiff managed to sign Leandro Bacuna from Reading on Thursday's transfer deadline day and Warnock said he was pleased with what the Curacao international could offer.
"We were fortunate we managed to get Bacuna over the line. He's a player I like and I've watched over the last three years," Warnock added.
"He can play wherever the need is. I've seen him at right back, left back playing in central midfield and also on the right wing. He's versatile."
Cardiff are 18th in the table with 19 points from 24 games.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
