Sky Sports have claimed live on-air that Leeds United now have a shortlist of midfield targets ready for the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Orta wants two

Leeds have a shortage of available midfield options at this moment in time, with star man Kalvin Phillips ruled out until March with a hamstring injury.

As a result, director of football Victor Orta is now after two midfield additions during the winter window instead of one, with a defensive number six and attacking number eight on the agenda.

Phil Hay recently claimed that it was quiet at Elland Road when it comes to senior signings, however, it appears as if that may change going off Sky Sports’ latest update.

The Latest: Sky Sports reveal

Sky Sports claimed on Tuesday that the Whites ‘want to strengthen in midfield’ and provided a further update on Wednesday evening.

They shared a club-by-club round-up on Wednesday evening in their live transfer show and posted it on their transfer blog. (18:52)

When it came to Leeds, Dharmesh Sheth relayed the move for teenage striker Mateo Joseph Fernandez and said Orta and co now have a list of midfield targets.

“Leeds United made their first signing of the window yesterday. They have a shortlist of midfield options now.”

The Verdict: Slowly but surely

With an exciting young signing locked up and attention immediately shifting to senior additions, it seems as if Orta is working flat out behind the scenes to bring midfielders to Yorkshire, which can only be viewed as positive news.

Links to Cagliari’s Nahitan Nandez and Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara have surfaced online recently, so perhaps they feature on Orta’s shortlist.

Kamara is a defensive midfielder who can even play centre-back whereas Nandez plays further forward, so they would fit the bill when it comes to Leeds’ wishes for a double deal in the middle of the park.

Either way, it is clear that the enigmatic sporting director needs to offer up some reinforcements for Marcelo Bielsa and fast - the manager has just four options in the middle of the park including Phillips.

In other news: Orta now eyeing Leeds move for 6 ft 3 beast who stopped Ronaldo; he's keen on a January switch.