Sheffield Wednesday hijack Leeds United’s Forestieri bid

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United’s head coach admitted that Leeds had shown a “general interest” in Forestieri after the Elland Road club agreed a £3million fee for the 25-year-old forward late last week.

United planned to finalise the transfer ahead of Saturday’s game against Derby County, making Forestieri their eighth signing of the summer, but the forward has stalled over a move to Leeds and is now the subject of bids from other clubs.

Sheffield Wednesday, like Leeds, made an initial enquiry to take Forestieri on a season-long loan from Vicarage Road but that bid was rejected by Watford who plan to sell the ex-Udinese player before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Wednesday – who today signed Norwich City’s Michael Turner on a season-long loan deal – are now reported to have tabled a £3m offer of their own and Reading remain in the hunt for Forestieri’s signature as next week’s FIFA deadline approaches.

Asked about Forestieri, Rosler said: “I cannot update you because I am not involved in any negotiations whatsoever. I know as much as you know.

“Obviously we have shown an interest in the player but where it is at this time I can’t tell you. I don’t know where we are.

“I know there was a general interest. I think everybody knew that. But where we are now, today, I can’t tell you.”

Forestieri’s reluctance to agree a move to Elland Road left United facing up to the prospect of abandoning negotiations in the early part of this week.

It is understood that the club are continuing to pursuing a deal, however, despite believing that Forestieri is holding out for a different, more lucrative move.

Rosler said: “I haven’t spoken to the player so I can’t tell you if the player is willing to come or not willing to come. I can’t tell you because I don’t know.

“Of course I want everybody committed to our football club. This is fantastic job, it’s a privilege to work for Leeds United and of course I want everybody coming into our football club to be 110 per cent committed.”

Rosler has other transfer targets on his mind, including Leicester City defender Liam Moore who he watched in the League Cup on Tuesday night and who is available on a full-season loan.

United’s head coach refused to comment on Moore specifically but said: “I was at Gigg Lane. I watched Leicester and Bury and I watched a lot of good players in that game from both sides.”

One of United’s existing centre-backs, Giuseppe Bellusci, has been the subject of rumoured interest in Italy in the past 48 hours, though one of the clubs linked with him - Atalanta - have since signed two central defenders.

Rosler said: “I’m personally not aware of (bids for Bellusci). I’ve not been told that there’s a club who’ve shown serious interest.

“At the moment I have no knowledge of any player in our football who has serious interest.”