Daniel Farke is ready to adopt a novel approach to the transfer window countdown as Emi Buendia was again touted with a move to Turkey.

Fresh reports linking the Argentine with Fenerbahçe surfaced either side of his return to the line up for Saturday’s Championship defeat to Derby. City have not opened negotiations despite speculation the clubs are discussing a loan with an option to buy. The overseas deadline closes at 11pm on Monday (UK), with the domestic trading window open until October 16.

Cantwell, who was omitted for the Rams’ visit after the pair had also been left out the previous weekend at Bournemouth, has been touted with Premier League duo Leeds and Fulham.

Farke insisted there was no sub-plot to the midfielder’s latest absence.

“I will turn my mobile off for a few days and hope and pray there is no calls,” said Farke. “It’s tricky. I predicted these first five games would be difficult to focus on for some of my players. That has proved the case but I have to be honest I wouldn’t blame this defeat on transfer speculation.

“It wasn’t just Todd. We had several players not in the squad for this game. Jacob Lungi Sorensen trained very well, also Josh Martin.

“You don’t just have one or two good training sessions and you press a button and in you come. It needs to happen over the longer term. Todd is full of quality. If he is focused, concentrated on his job he has all jobs to impress again. It is hard work on this level.

“I am hopeful he will show this over the next few weeks and that he will be involved in the coming weeks.”

Buendia’s unique skill set earned him a reprieve.

“We needed a player who can beat a man, maybe more the street footballer. That is why I wanted him on the pitch,” said Farke. “Todd is more a technical player, good passing and we had several of those in our squad. Our feeling was it was more important to have a player who can do some crazy things against a deep lying opponent.

“I was quite pleased. He was not outstanding or world class but after a long time out he produced many good scenes.

“He couldn’t create an assist or goal but he was involved in the move for the penalty and it was a solid move.”