Bradford City could risk losing up to £1?million on Nahki Wells if he is not sold during this month’s transfer window.

Wells, who has rejected City’s offer of a contract extension, is believed to have set his heart on moving to a club in a higher division.

City have already turned down the first January bid from an unknown club for Wells and are expecting more offers for the much admired Bermudian.

The 15-goal marksman has been strongly linked with Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town — the bookmakers’ favourites to sign him — and Blackburn Rovers, who are all in the Sky Bet Championship.

It is understood that there has also been interest from clubs in the Barclays Premier League. According to the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, City were prepared to make the 23-year-old their highest-paid player in an effort to extend his deal by another 12 months.

Wells’s value would drop dramatically should he enter the final year of his contract in the summer and could affect manager Phil Parkinson’s wage bill next season.

Rather then put pen to paper on a new contract, Wells is understood to have made it clear to the club that he wants to be playing in the Championship next season and would prefer to keep his options open. In the midst of a seven-match winless run, City are twelfth in League One.

Parkinson had gone on the record admitting that he would rather City sell their prize asset sooner rather than later so he can have time to rebuild his team.

“The key to it is that I’d like it resolved early one way or another,” Parkinson said. “Obviously, there are players out there who are available and who we’re looking at should Nahki go.

“What concerns me is if the window draws to a close and he goes right at the end of it. Then the players who are possibly available we might lose.”

Leeds, one of the clubs believed to be interested in Wells, have played down speculation linking them with the striker, who has scored 53 goals in 2?½ seasons at Bradford.

“Nahki Wells is a good player but he plays for Bradford and Phil Parkinson is another good friend of mine,” Brian McDermott, the Leeds manager, said. “I imagine he would cost a lot of money.”

Bradford are at home to Bristol City on Saturday.