Leeds United are still hoping to bring in a new central midfielder in the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
The Lowdown: Phillips a big miss
The Whites have suffered an injury-plagued season to say the least, with Marcelo Bielsa having to make do without a number of key figures at different times.
Kalvin Phillips is Leeds' most noticeable current absentee and the 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a hamstring issue.
There is a clear need for the Whites to bring in a new midfielder this month and they appear to be working hard on it, after reports in December revealed Victor Orta wants to sign two - a number eight and a number six.
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The Latest: Reporters makes fresh claim
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Thursday evening [via MOT Leeds News], Sheth confirmed that Leeds still see midfield as the key area to strengthen before January comes to an end:
"Leeds still looking to strengthen their midfield."
The Sky reporter continued to say that the club are happy to wait until late in the month to land their 'main target', although they did not specify who that is.
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The Verdict: Simply has to happen
Leeds look horribly light in midfield without Phillips around and the idea of nobody coming in this month would feel negligent, given their potential Premier League relegation battle.
Granted, Adam Forshaw is currently performing impressively in the middle of the park, but considering he missed nearly two years of action with a hip problem himself, there is no guarantee that he will remain fit for long periods.
Cagliari's Nahitan Nandez continues to look like an ideal option to sign, with the Uruguayan reportedly allowed to leave the Serie A club this month, so Leeds should do all they can to snap him up, although only time will tell if he is the man identified as Orta's 'main target'.
In other news, Leeds are reportedly monitoring the situation of one player. Find out who it is here.