Leeds United are highly unlikely to make a move for former Manchester City and Leicester City attacker Kelechi Iheanacho this month, although the club are aware he could leave Sevilla, sources have told LeedsLive.

Former United director of football Victor Orta, who is now sporting director at Sevilla, this week refused to dismiss the suggestion that Iheanacho, or any teammate, could leave before deadline day. The Nigerian joined his Spanish employers this summer after being released from Leicester.

The 28-year-old has struggled to find favour under Sevilla manager Garcia Pimienta, playing just 11 times so far. He has started just five of his nine La Liga outings.

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"The market is open. We have the obligation to study all the offers,” Sevilla chief Orta is quoted as saying by Diario de Sevilla . “There are three parts. The players also have their feelings about their future. With the market open, anything can happen with any name."

Leeds are anticipating a quiet window and, while the club remains alert to any opportunities in the market, nothing is expected to happen with Iheanacho. The forward was part of the Leicester squad that won promotion to the Premier League last season.

He played 23 Championship games under Enzo Maresca, scoring five times. Iheanacho has netted three goals in his limited outings for Sevilla, all of which have come in the early round of the Copa del Rey against clubs competing below the top tier.

Daniel Farke has insisted he will “stay awake” for transfer opportunities at both ends of the pitch this month. Patrick Bamford is out with a hamstring injury until the end of January while centre-back Pascal Struijk has suffered a setback to the same muscle and will be sidelined for at least three weeks.

“Overall I am very happy with my squad,” Farke said on Friday. “With the injury to Patrick, it is a situation where we need to stay awake in the offensive positions, a striker or number 10.

“But we are top of the league, so it is not easy to - at this stage - find a solution who makes us better from a football point of view, is a great character and who is also affordable.

"January is always more complicated than the summer because there are not too many options. But in these positions we definitely have to stay awake. And due to the injury to Pascal also in the centre-back position.”

Leeds have meanwhile sanctioned loan spells for three players this week; Joe Gelhardt to Hull City, Charlie Crew to Doncaster Rovers, and Luca Thomas to Halifax Town.