Leeds United could look to bring a new left-back to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to Phil Hay, with the journalist revealing on a recent episode of The Phil Hay Show that Victor Orta could be tempted into signing a new left-sided defender this winter, with the Whites having been linked with the likes of Borussia Dortmund's Raphaël Guerreiro and Philadelphia Union's Kai Wagner in recent weeks.

Regarding Leeds' plans for the January market, The Athletic journalist said: "From what's being said, I do get the sense that there is going to be quite a strong temptation to try and find a left-back in January."

Orta can bin Firpo

Considering just how poor the £13m signing of Junior Firpo back in the summer of 2020 has panned out for Leeds thus far, the news that Orta could be tempted into bringing a new left-back into the club this winter will undoubtedly be music to the ears of many Leeds supporters.

Indeed, an injury-laden campaign limited the £42k-per-week defender to just 19 starts in the Premier League last season, and, even when the former Barcelona full-back was on the pitch, he did little to impress.

Over his total of 21 league outings for the Whites in 2021/22, the £4.3m-rated talent offered his side next to nothing going forwards, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of a mere 0.5 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

The former Spain U21 international did return slightly better numbers in a defensive capacity, making an average of 2.5 tackles, one interception and 1.3 clearances per fixture, however, the 26-year-old also lost possession of the ball an average of 9.2 times per game and picked up a total of 11 yellow cards.

These metrics saw the player who James Marchment claimed looks "massively uncomfortable" at the back average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.60, ranking him as Jesse Marsch's seventh-worst performer in the league last term.

Things have not exactly improved for Firpo this season, with the left-back once again picking up an injury that saw him ruled out of action for nine games, while, over the two Premier League fixtures in which he has featured, the defender has once again averaged a disastrous SofaScore match rating of 6.30 - currently ranking him as Leeds' worst performer.

As such, should Orta wish to give Marsch the best possible chance of avoiding another fight for survival come the end of the season, it would appear extremely wise for the Spaniard to bring a new left-back in at Elland Road, while also finally binning off Firpo in the process - as it is clear to see that the full-back is not of the standard required for a Premier League club.