Leeds United are 'in the front row' to sign Sasa Lukic in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Italian media outlet Forza Roma (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite the interest of Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, it is Victor Orta who is now leading the race to sign the Torino midfielder this winter.

The report goes on to state that this is down to the fact that Il Toro's director of football, Davide Vagnati, is demanding a €15m (£13m) fee in order to part with the 26-year-old in January - a price the Giallorossi cannot afford.

Finally, it is suggested that the Serbian wants a move away from the Stadio Olimpico this winter, with it being claimed that Lukic 'will have a direct confrontation with the Torino management to ask for a transfer' upon his return from the Qatar World Cup.

"Excellent" signing

While it is true that Tyler Adams and Marc Roca have both highly impressed since their respective moves to Elland Road this summer, with the duo having scored just one goal and registered one assist between them in the Premier League so far this season, it is clear that slightly more attacking flair would be a welcome addition in Jesse Marsch's squad.

And, over his 35 Serie A appearances last season, the £17.5m-rated Lukic was in fantastic attacking form, bagging five goals, providing four assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.9 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles - at a success rate of 74% - per game.

These metrics saw the 26-year-old who Gleison Bremer dubbed an "excellent midfielder" average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as Ivan Jurić's sixth-best player in the Italian top flight.

The £22k-per-week talent has once again shone going forwards this season, having already hit the back of the net twice and created two big chances for his teammates over his 12 league fixtures, in addition to making an average of one key pass, taking one shot and playing 2.7 long balls - at a success rate of 68% - per game.

These returns have seen the Serbia international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.95, currently ranking him as Torino's third-best performer in the division.

As such, with Lukic appearing to be a much more creative force in the final third than the likes of Adams and Roca, the news that Orta looks to be leading the race for the midfielder is undoubtedly fantastic news for Leeds, as the 26-year-old would certainly make an excellent addition to Marsch's current options in the middle of the park.