Leeds United: Kyle Lafferty remains loan target for Whites

United failed with repeated attempts to land Lafferty before the end of FIFA’s January window but the club have kept alive their interest in the Norwich City striker and hope to take him on a 93-day loan.

Lafferty, the Northern Ireland international, is surplus to requirements at Carrow Road but Norwich held out for permanent offers last month in a bid to take the forward off their books.

Leeds wanted Lafferty on a half-season loan with a view to a full-time move in the summer but that proposal was one of several at Elland Road which fell through before Monday’s deadline.

Head coach Steve Evans was in the market for a new striker with doubt surrounding the fitness of Chris Wood and Leeds short of options but bids for Barnsley’s Sam Winnall and Crystal Palace’s Fraizer Campbell were rejected.

The United boss is also understood to have pushed for the signing of Middlesbrough forward Kike as the deadline approached but Kike opted instead to take up an offer from La Liga club Eibar.

Boro announced today that Kika had left The Riverside to join the Spanish side outfit a delay in completing the paperwork will prevent him from playing for Eibar until the start of next season.

Lafferty, 28, has played only three times for Norwich this season and was pushed further down the order at Carrow Road by City’s deals to sign Patrick Bamford and Steven Naismith last month.

He was heavily linked with Swiss club Sion - a side he played for in 2012 and 2013 - before the window closed.

Speaking on Monday, Norwich manager Alex Neil said: “With Kyle, at the end of the day someone has to show interest and make an offer.

“There has been interest but it didn’t happen so he remains part of the squad until such time someone makes a reasonable offer. There was a loan offer available but Kyle decided not to go.”