Leeds United are eyeing a move for Diogo Monteiro...

What's the word?

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, the Yorkshire outfit are plotting a bid to sign the 17-year-old centre-back from Swiss outfit Servette this month.

The Geneva-born gem, who is of Portuguese descent, is thought to be a major defensive prospect, having built a reputation for being a solid ball-playing option with strong mobility and technique.

Victor Orta and co have already brought in two January additions in the form of Max Wober and club-record signing Georginio Rutter but have always recruited for the U21 setup too, with Monteiro the next on the radar.

Struijk repeat

Whilst it remains to be seen how much the teenage sensation will command before deadline day on January 31st, the Spanish director of football could well unearth the club's next Pascal Struijk if they secure his signature.

No one around Elland Road had heard of the Belgian-born centre-back prior to his move, having signed from Ajax on a free transfer, but some four years later, he's become a first-team regular under both Jesse Marsch and his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa.

Part of the Portugal U19 squad, Monteiro has represented his country in multiple age groups, featuring alongside players like Hugo Felix - brother of Joao - and promising Sporting CP duo Matheus Fernandes and Rodrigo Ribeiro.

In the words of scout Ron Dor, the 17-year-old is a "beast in the making" and a "monster" with him being recently called into first-team action due to injuries, helping Servette keep a stunning clean sheet against Swiss giants Young Boys, a game in which he registered six interceptions and won 86.6% of his 15 duels.

Orta's time in west Yorkshire has been blighted by several disastrous signings for the first-team but what cannot be disputed is the fact that he has always hit the spot when it comes to the Thorp Arch academy.

Monteiro could therefore become the club's next Struijk, should he make the switch to Leeds in the coming weeks and then subsequently impress Marsch with his exploits and potential.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Meslier: Marsch must finally ditch "pathetic" £35k-p/w Leeds star after Cardiff blunder...