Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Nicolas Raskin to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

Transfer Focus

That's according to a report by Belgian publication Voetbal Nieuws (via Sport Witness), who claim that Victor Orta has 'showed interest' in a move for the Standard Liège central midfielder this winter, while the Jupiler Pro League side are said to be open to the sale of the 21-year-old should an 'interesting offer' arrive in January.

However, the report goes on to suggest that the Whites are not alone in the race for the Belgium U21 international, with Club Brugge, SC Braga, Genoa, ACF Fiorentina, Marseille, LOSC Lille and Glasgow Rangers all named as 'potential buyers', however, it is claimed that Raskin himself 'prefers' the idea of a move to the Premier League.

The next Kroos

Considering how exciting a prospect Raskin very much appears to be, it is not difficult to understand why Leeds would be interested in a deal to bring the deep-lying midfielder to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

Indeed, over his 16 Jupiler Pro League appearances so far this season, the £6.1m-rated talent has been in astonishing creative form, having already registered four assists and created four big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.1 key passes, playing 2.8 long balls and completing 39.7 total passes - at a success rate of 84% - per game.

The 21-year-old has also caught the eye in more workmanlike metrics, making an average of 3.3 tackles - the most of any player in the division - 0.4 interceptions, 0.2 clearances and winning 5.8 duels - at a success rate of 58% - per match.

These returns have seen the youngster - who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig compared to Real Madrid and Germany legend Toni Kroos - average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.01, currently ranking him as Standard's sixth-best performer in the top flight of Belgian football.

Furthermore, speaking about the €5.5m (£4.8m) valued Raskin back in 2019, Het Belang van Limburg journalist Bob Faesen heaped a considerable amount of praise on the midfielder in an interview with The Herald, stating:

"He is still only 19, but he has really shone. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull.

"He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege who Rangers will need to be wary of."

As such, with Raskin looking to be a midfielder who is strong in the tackle, boasts an eye for a killer pass and is deadly going forwards, it is not hard to see why Kulig compared the Liège starlet to Kroos, nor is it difficult to understand why Orta would be keen on a move for the 21-year-old, as "the future of Belgian football" would undoubtedly be a brilliant signing for the Whites.