Caolan Lavery’s move to City is still up in the air.

The Northern Ireland under-21 international striker has been training at the club since his academy scholarship ran out at Ipswich.

He had hoped to put pen to paper this week and Lavery’s agent Thomas Brookes tweeted on Wednesday that a deal had been confirmed.

But Mark Lawn today made it clear that an agreement has not yet been reached. It is likely to remain on hold until Brookes returns from a business trip to the Far East.

Lawn insisted the club are only focusing on this afternoon’s critical league clash with bottom club Plymouth.

City’s joint-chairman said: “Talks are ongoing with his agent but at present his agent is in China.

“Plymouth is more important for now and we’ve told Phil (Parkinson) to concentrate on that.”

Parkinson has already indicated that Canadian-born Lavery is seen as one for the future. Bringing him in would not change City’s pursuit of a proven frontman in next month’s transfer window.

Speaking earlier in the week, the Bantams chief said: “It’s separate to January but if you get a chance to sign a young goalscorer, then sometimes that can be too good to turn down.

“We’ve been monitoring Caolan at Ipswich. The scout down there, Brian Owen, has worked with me at Charlton and Colchester before and he’s watched him progress in the youth team.”

Lavery, who suffered a serious knee injury last season, turned down the offer of a six-month pro deal with Ipswich and City have been checking carefully to see if they would be liable for any compensation claim from the Tractor Boys.

Former Valley Parade boss Paul Jewell was unhappy that he rejected another chance at Ipswich and accused him at the time of “putting more credence on money rather than an opportunity.”

The 19-year-old came off the bench to make his Under-21 international debut against Serbia last month and had trials at Leicester and Sunderland before linking up with City. He is hopeful that a deal will get sorted “very soon”.