How Leeds United failed on Kike and Emnes bids

It is understood United approached both clubs in the hours before the end of the Football League’s window with a view to recruiting one of the forwards until January.

Leeds head coach Steve Evans secured the first deal of his short tenure when midfielder Liam Bridcutt joined from Sunderland yesterday and he was pushing to bring a new striker to Elland Road before the deadline passed.

Evans refused to name the players concerned but speaking earlier he said: “I’d like to think it’s not business done.

“We’re really waiting at the end of the phone now and we’ve tried desperately hard to strengthen in a number of areas.

“We’ve managed to get Liam in the door and literally we’re waiting on one Premier League chairman and one Championship chairman making a decision on whether they can release their player. We’ve got a couple of hours for that phone to ring.”

Kike, who cost Boro around £3m last summer, has featured in many of Boro’s games this season, predominantly as a substitute.

Dutchman Emnes - a former Boro player - has played only once for Swansea since the summer in a League Cup tie against York City.