Leeds United’s bid to sign Derby County striker Chris Martin is now over, according to Football Insider.
The reliable football news site claim that the Championship’s second-placed club have blocked Leeds’ chances of landing the 29-year-old after they enquired about taking him on loan for the rest of the season.
Football Insider report that Derby have made it clear to United they will not loan out Martin to a direct promotion rival and he will only be allowed to join a club lower in the division.
It is said that Leeds will have to now look elsewhere for a new striker this month as Sunderland and Reading move into pole position to land the Scotland international.
Martin has been a regular for Derby this season but has not started a Championship game in over a month and has scored only one goal in 25 appearances across the entire campaign.
Leeds are seventh in the league and are well placed to challenge for promotion but are in the market for new players over the next fortnight.
Good move for Leeds?
Despite his horrendous record this season, Leeds’ pursuit of Martin makes sense, as he would be an upgrade of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Kemar Roofe and company. Martin has a fine Championship record of 81 goals from 277 matches, can hold the ball up, bring others into play and would bring some much-needed knowhow to a callow front line. United must now look at alternative centre-forward options with similar strengths, as well as second-tier pedigree.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10
Likely to happen?
Football Insider are a reliable source of Leeds news and, barring a change of stance from Derby, it is extremely unlikely that Martin will be heading to Elland Road before 1 February.
This Is Futbol rating 1/10