Leeds United have been long-term admirers of FC Koln midfielder Dejan Ljubicic despite seeing an offer rejected for his services last summer.

Ljubicic had been identified as one of their first targets after manager Daniel Farke arrived at the club. After a bid worth £3.3million (€4m) was rebuffed, Leeds are thought to have kept a close eye on his development.

Fast forward a few months and the midfielder has been a regular starter for head coach Gerhard Struber as Koln remain top of the 2. Bundesliga table, two points clear of second-placed Karlsruher. Koln are now due to take on Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal.

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Despite an enjoyable start to the season, Ljubicic is coming to the end of his contract with the club at the end of the season. Back in September, Koln sporting director Christian Keller revealed the Austrian refused to sign a new contract at the German club.

"His position at the moment is that he wants to concentrate on the season - and to play the football he can play again," Keller said. "He doesn't want to worry about future issues at the moment. Dejo and I discussed this openly, right at the beginning of the preparation in the training camp and also recently. I think that has to be respected."

Meanwhile, Ljubicic remained tight-lipped on his future plans, adding: "Football is a fast-moving business. I am in contact with those responsible and my contract with FC runs until 2025 - I am here and I am happy here."

It is unlikely to be a busy month on the transfer front for United as Farke has made it clear he is not a big fan of the winter market, saying: "I don't like when the group is too big. Once everyone is fit and you have four players for one position, it could also be negative for the spirit and the togetherness."

He went on: "If you are forced to do something due to injuries or something is really missing in the group, then you have to react but when you're sitting at the top of the table - there can't be too much wrong."