Leeds United are set to enter into negotiations regarding a deal for Sasa Lukic after the Qatar World Cup.
What's the talk?
That's according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato, who claim that, with Victor Orta having been heavily linked with a move for the Torino midfielder in recent weeks, 'negotiations could begin' for the 26-year-old later this month, shortly after the end of the World Cup.
The report goes on to state that Leeds are 'closely following Lukic' ahead of the January transfer window, however, the Premier League side are joined in their pursuit of the Serbia international by Jose Mourinho's AS Roma - who are reportedly willing to offer Torino Marash Kumbulla in a player swap deal for the €15m (£13m) ace.
Marsch's dream
Considering how impressive Lukic has been for Torino in recent seasons, in addition to the 26-year-old appearing to be something of a dream fit for Jesse Marsch's high-pressing tactical set-up at Elland Road, it is not difficult to see why Orta would be keen to bring the midfielder to LS11 ahead of the second half of the Whites' Premier League campaign.
Indeed, over his 35 Serie A fixtures last season, the £13m-rated engine 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.
The central midfielder also caught the eye in metrics more typically associated with his position, making an average of 1.5 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per match, in addition to completing an average of 42.8 passes - at a success rate of 88% - and winning 4.8 duels per match.
These returns saw the former FK Partizan Belgrade ace - who Jerry Mancini once praised for his impressive "pressing" against Torino's city rivals Juventus - average an excellent SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as Ivan Jurić's sixth-best performer in the Italian top flight last season.
Lukic has once again caught the eye for all the right reasons over his 12 league appearances this term, with the £22k-per-week talent having scored two goals and created two big chances for his side, as well as making an average of one key pass, 1.4 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and completing 38.8 passes - at a success rate of 89% - per game.
These metrics have seen the 26-year-old once again average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.95, currently ranking him as Il Toro's third-best performer in the league.
As such, with Lukic evidently being a forward-thinking, hard-working and intense pressing midfielder, it is clear to see just how well-suited the Serbia star would be in the heart of Marsch's starting XI, leading us to believe that Orta must do everything in his power to beat Roma to the £13m signing of the Torino ace in January - as he appears a dream fit for the Whites.