Town appear likely to have to look elsewhere for another striker with Billy Sharp now expected to remain at Leeds.
The Blues made an approach to take the 28-year-old former Doncaster frontman on loan with a view to a permanent switch last week but the clubs were unable to agree a deal.
Sharp, who has regularly appeared as a sub for Leeds in recent games with manager Neil Redfearn wanting to keep hold of him, is now believed likely to stay at Elland Road during this transfer window.
Despite having added Freddie Sears from Colchester on Friday, the Blues are understood to be keen on bringing in another striker with Conor Sammon and Balint Bajner both having moved on in recent days.
Town have been linked with various other strikers, including Leicester’s Chris Wood and West Brom youngster Adil Nabi, while reports of interest in veteran Wigan frontman Marc-Antoine Fortuné are understood to be wide of the mark and manager Mick McCarthy has played down the chances of signing Kevin Doyle from his old club Wolves.
McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor were at the Norwich-Manchester United U21s match earlier in the month with Jesse Lingard, Will Keane, who is close to joining Sheffield Wednesday, and Nick Powell, a Town target in his Crewe days, all in the Red Devils’ line-up.
Elsewhere, Reading have signed midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, who was also linked with the Blues earlier in the week, on loan until the end of the season.