Fulham have failed in their bid to sign Junichi Inamoto on a permanent basis after he decided to return home Gamba Osaka, according to reports in Japan.
The 24-year-old had a successful season on loan with Fulham but the two clubs could not agree on a fee.
Inamoto has a year left on his Gamba contract and Fulham were unwilling to pay the reported asking price of £2.5m.
"We received a fax from Fulham declining the deal," said Gamba president Izumi Sano.
Inamoto would have missed the start of the Premiership season after breaking his chin in the friendly between Japan and England in June.
"Fulham say they cannot spend money on a player who has to be
sidelined for at least three months," added Sano.
"Fulham have also proposed signing Inamoto with no transfer fee.
But I don't think we can accept such an offer.
"His valuation will surely rise if he plays well again with Gamba and Japan and we want to help him to do it."
Fulham boss Chris Coleman was determined to keep Inamoto at Craven Cottage but dug his heels in over the transfer fee.
"He has got a year left on his contract, but he is not going to be fit really until November," he said.
"Then when you get to January, they have problems because he only has six months left on his contract and he can walk for nothing."
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