Leeds United supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern this week after seeing their side ease past Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 2-0 at Oakwell on Saturday to get back to winning ways in the Championship, and at the same time move up to eighth place in the division.

Thomas Christiansen’s men went into their clash with the Tykes off the back of a 4-1 defeat to table-toppers Wolves in midweek, but they regrouped admirably to produce a fine display in South Yorkshire on Saturday. Summer signing Samuel Saiz gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half, and they doubled their advantage before the interval when Ezgjan Alioski, also a summer arrival, bagged his fifth of the campaign in added time to deflate Paul Heckingbottom’s Barnsley, who were unable to mount a fightback in a drab second period.

Thus, there have been many delighted Leeds fans in the Tavern this week, many of whom are getting increasingly encouraged by their side and its potential to finally end their wait for a return to the Premier League, with it 13 years since the Whites were relegated from the top tier of English football.

Yet several of our resident Leeds supporters are aware that further reinforcements may well be needed in January to sustain a promotion push in the second half of the campaign, and Christiansen and the club’s hierarchy could do a lot worse than take a look at Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton in a bid to snap up players in the winter window.

And with some Saints stars struggling for first team football and possibly open to a move in the New Year, here are TWO Southampton players Leeds must seek to land when the window reopens in January…

Alex McCarthy

Leeds signed Felix Wiedwald over the summer in a bid to bolster their goalkeeping ranks, with last season’s number one Rob Green allowed to leave the club in a clear show of faith from head coach Christiansen.

However, the German shot-stopper has struggled to nail down the starting berth so far this term, yet with fellow summer signing Andy Lonergan also showing indifferent form, the Whites may be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper in January.

And they could do a lot worse than target Southampton number two Alex McCarthy, who is surely not going to get an opportunity at St Mary’s given that Fraser Forster has recently retained the gloves despite a tricky run of form.

And Leeds fans know all about the former Reading shot-stopper given that he spent time on loan at Elland Road back in 2011, in which time he kept three clean sheets in just six appearances.

And moving for the former England youth international could be exactly what they need to bolster their promotion credentials in the second half of the campaign.

Shane Long

With Charlie Austin having bagged twice at the weekend for Southampton, and Manolo Gabbiadini having scored three times for the Saints so far this term, it’s looking likely that Shane Long will be struggling for minutes in the second half of the season.

The 30-year-old may well have appeared in 12 of their 14 Premier League games this season, but only half of those have been starts, and he has failed to net at all so far for Pellegrino’s side.

Thus, he could well be on the move in January, and given his fine record at Championship level in the past, he may well be an ideal signing for Christiansen’s Leeds, who of course sold star striker Chris Wood in the summer to Premier League club Burnley.

And given his incredible energy and relentless work-rate, Long could have a huge influence on this Leeds side in the second half of the campaign, and thus should be a deal the Yorkshire giants are seeking to strike.