With the out-going loan of Ahmed Elmohamady to Hull City there has been ramped up speculation about a potential late move for Aiden McGeady. This is starting to look increasingly unlikely.
Spartak played a friendly game today against Bunyodkor Tashkent, winning 2-1 in Abu Dhabi where the side are undergoing some warm weather training.
Post-match, Spartak manager Valery Karpin told reporters that any chance of the Irishman leaving the club was unlikely;
In all likelihood he will not leave.
This despite the fact McGeady was left out of the starting lineup and off the substitutes bench as Karpin shuffled the pack against the Uzbek outfit.
Whether or not McGeady being left out is because he's conducting business with ourselves, or simply just the manager's decision who knows. They do have another friendly in four days time, their last in the UAE, where a potentially stronger side will be put out by Karpin.
We can live in hope, but this development would suggest that to get any deal done there's plenty of work to do.