WANDERERS’ plans to bring in two new players have been scuppered after Tim Ream’s move to QPR has hit a late snag.

Neil Lennon had been ready to invest some of the funds from the sale of his American defender to bring in Italian defender Francesco Pisano and a mystery attacking signing in time to face Middlesbrough tomorrow afternoon.

But both moves have been put on hold after Fulham made a late offer to Ream’s representatives which is believed to have trumped their West London rivals.

Crucially the Cottagers have not yet managed to agree a transfer fee with Wanderers, who had rejected their previous offer of £1.1million on Tuesday night.

QPR thought they had the deal wrapped up after a package totalling £1.75million with add-ons was accepted on Wednesday night at the Macron.

Rangers boss Chris Ramsey admitted he was nervous about the deal when questioned at his weekly press conference earlier today.

“I think it will go through. There’s a negotiation period, and as a manager you do get a bit jittery.

“If you want the player, the player has the upper hand, but in our situation no one can have the upper hand because we’re dictated to by the finances we’ve got.

“I know Les (Ferdinand) was bargaining hard last night trying to get it done, and it won’t be from the want of trying if it doesn’t get done.”

It is not believed at present that Fulham’s late entrance into negotiations will mean a better transfer fee for Wanderers – although that is still clearly a possibility if Rangers respond.

A move to Craven Cottage will almost certainly bring better financial rewards for Ream, however, with Kit Symons’ side not currently under the same financial scrutiny from the Financial Fair Play authorities.

Lennon had all-but announced the deal himself on Thursday, explaining that the sale could give him a chance to “balance out” his squad with a couple more signings.

Sources at Wanderers were still expecting a deal to go through at some point this weekend, with an announcement likely early next week.

And the stalled deal leaves Lennon unable to add to his squad for the time being, with strong rumours circulating this afternoon that Middlesbrough’s Mustapha Carayol could be the man he was looking to add to his squad on loan.