Audio: Hull net N’Doye having lost out in bid for Lennon

A fee of £3m had been agreed with Lokomotiv Moscow last week, but the 29-year-old’s participation in the African Cup of Nations complicated matters.

Hull’s bid to bring N’Doye to the KC Stadium was made more pressing by the disappointment of missing out on Aaron Lennon, after the former Leeds United wideman opted to join Everton ahead of the Yorkshire club or Stoke City.

Hull, who have failed to score in 12 of their last 16 league and Cup games, had agreed a loan deal until the end of the season for the 27-year-old and a £7m move if the Tigers could then stay up.

However, Lennon could not be lured back to his native county, leaving Bruce disappointed.

The Hull manager was so intent on not suffering a second setback that he flew out to Paris yesterday morning to meet N’Doye face-to-face.

After constructive talks between Bruce and the striker’s representatives, Hull then submitted the paperwork needed to secure a two-hour extension as the clock ticked down towards the 11pm deadline.

On his way out of the KC for a second time this season was Tom Ince, who joined Derby County on loan for the rest of the season.

The window saw more than £100m spent by English clubs, a huge chunk being splashed by Chelsea yesterday as Juan Cuadrado joined from Serie A side Fiorentina for £26.8m.

Heading out of Stamford Bridge was Mohamed Solah, who went in the opposite direction to Cuadrado, and Andre Schurrle, the German midfielder having joined Wolfsburg for £22m.

Wilfried Zaha also sealed a return to Crystal Palace from Manchester United, who also let Anderson return to Internacionale in his native Brazil.

In Yorkshire, Sheffield Wednesday, fresh from being taken over by Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, were busy in the final few hours of the window.

Romanian striker Sergiu Bus was the first to arrive from CSKA Sofia in a deal that will see the Owls pay an initial £375,000.

Further add-ons are included in the transfer of the 22-year-old, who netted 10 times in just 19 appearances before the winter break in Bulgaria.

Next through the Hillsborough entrance was Marnick Vermijl, a former Belgian Under-21 international defender who has joined from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

Vermijl, who had been expected to sign for Hull’s Europa League conquerors Lokeren, has made two appearances for the Old Trafford club. His last outing came in August’s 4-0 defeat at MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.

Wednesday made it a hat-trick of signings when Lewis McGugan joined on loan from Watford until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old enjoyed an impressive loan spell with the Owls, playing seven times before returning to Vicarage Road.

Across the Steel City, United had a mixed day as Rochdale’s Matty Done winged his way into Bramall Lane for £1m, but Eoin Doyle opted to join Cardiff City from Chesterfield.

The capture of Done, a 26-year-old midfielder with 14 goals to his name this term, is a major coup by Nigel Clough in the club’s quest for promotion for League One.

Clough had been hoping to sign Doyle, but was unable to tempt the 25-goal forward, the country’s top scorer this season, to South Yorkshire. Instead, Doyle will join Cardiff in a deal that could, due to add-ons, net the Spireites £1m.

Heading out of the Lane on a busy day was George Long, who has joined Motherwell on loan.

Other clubs active on deadline day were Leeds United and Huddersfield Town.

Albanian striker Edgar Cani moved to Elland Road on loan for the rest of the season from Serie A side Catania as Michael Tonge left to join Millwall and David Norris had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

Rodolph Austin, despite being linked with a move to Wigan Athletic, remained at Leeds as head coach Neil Redfearn got his way after previously making it clear the Jamaican was an important part of his plans.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, signed Ishmael Miller on a six-month deal from Blackpool with an option to extend that by a further year.

The 27-year-old joined Town just a few days after Nahki Wells limped out of the derby defeat to Leeds with a foot injury, leaving manager Chris Powell with only James Vaughan as a recognised frontman.

Paul Dixon left the John Smith’s Stadium for Dundee United after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

In League One, Sheffield United were not the only Yorkshire club able to do some business as Bradford City signed Blackpool defender Gary MacKenzie on loan until the end of the season.

Earlier in the day, the Bantams had missed out on Tonge despite holding extensive talks with Leeds. Barnsley, meanwhile, extended the loan of George Waring from Stoke City.