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Leeds United fans react as Whites reportedly snub Derby County’s Chris Martin

Leeds fans celebrate their team's victory during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Derby County at Elland Road on November 29...
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Could Derby Country striker Chris Martin have been the final piece in Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds United jigsaw?

Chris Martin of Derby County celebrates after scoring his teams fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Hull City on April 5, 2016 in Derby, United...

So Chris Martin will not be joining Leeds United on loan this month.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Derby County noticed that Leeds were one striker short and offered the West Yorkshire giants the chance to sign their Scottish international centre-forward on loan for the rest of the season.

Far from being an act of goodwill, it appears Derby merely wanted to get one of their highest earners off the wage bill. Martin is, after all, probably fifth in the pecking order after the arrival of Cameron Jerome from Norwich City.

Johnny Russell of Derby County celebrates with Chris Martin after he scores during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Burton Albion at iPro Stadium on December 2, 2017...

But the YEP claims that Leeds have rejected the chance to give Martin a fresh start. It is understood that his weekly pay packet would have forced the club to tear up their wage structure and Leeds were not prepared to do that for a player who has just one goal all season.

Time will tell whether this proves to be a good decision. Leeds are crying out for a striker who has proved himself in the Championship and the refusal to take a punt on Martin, top scorer for Derby between 2013 and 2016, could come back to haunt them.

Chris Martin of Derby and Michael Dawson of Hull in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Hull City at iPro Stadium on September 8, 2017 in Derby, England.

But it seems the majority of Leeds fans are not too fussed. Why, after all, should they be signing a player who is fifth choice at one of their fellow promotion contenders?