Swansea City are admirers of Luton Town's Harry Cornick but accept a deal to sign the striker will prove difficult.
The Swans are eager to bolster their forward options this month given the expected sale of Michael Obafemi to Burnley.
However, WalesOnline understands they are yet to submit a formal bid for Hatters frontman Cornick, with Bristol City also linked with a swoop for the versatile attacker.
The 27-year-old will be a free agent in the summer and could be available on a cut-price deal before Tuesday's 11pm deadline. Despite his contract situation, Luton have no desire to sell Cornick this month.
It means the Swans knew they were facing an uphill battle when it came to making a move for Cornick, with the Robins understood to be the frontrunners for his signature at present.
It comes as Nigel Pearson's side look set to sell Antoine Semenyo to Bournemouth for a fee in the region of £9m, meaning they are likely to have funds to spend in the final throes of the window.
Cornick has been a key figure for Luton since he moved to Kenilworth Road from Bournemouth in 2017. He was part of the side that gained promotion from League Two in 2017/18 while he also starred as the Hatters clinched the League One title a year later.
However, his influence at the club has waned of late, with Cornick playing the full 90 on just one occasion this season. He has made 22 appearances in all competitions for the club across the campaign to date, with his two goals both coming in January.
Meanwhile, the Swans have also been linked with a loan swoop for Aston Villa's Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Russell Martin has been keen to add a right-sided defender to his ranks since failing to replace loan duo Hannes Wolf and Cyrus Christie last summer.
But a Swansea source told WalesOnline that a deal for Kesler-Hayden is not on the cards as things stand.
The 20-year-old spent the opening half of the campaign on loan with Championship rivals Huddersfield Town but found the going tough with the Terriers given their poor start to the campaign.
He made 15 appearances in all competitions for the west Yorkshire outfit, scoring one goal in a 2-1 win at Preston North End on Boxing Day.
He was recalled by his parent club Villa in mid-January, and he is now expected to go back out on loan to another Championship club for the rest of the season.
Kesler-Hayden - who has also had loan spells with Swindon Town and MK Dons - can operate at right-back, right wing-back or right midfield.
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