Leeds United's pursuit of a new winger has taken an intriguing twist this week with fresh reports emerging over potential targets...

What's the word?

According to Football Insider, the Yorkshire giants are now eyeing up a move for Vitoria Guimaraes star Marcus Edwards as Marcelo Bielsa prioritises the addition of a wide man before Monday's transfer deadline.

The 21-year-old is the latest name to be shortlisted and the Premier League newcomers could look to bring him back to England should they fail to land top target Dan James from Manchester United.

Ryan Kent is another name mooted with a switch to Elland Road but his £20m release clause may cause some doubts within the Leeds hierarchy.

An interesting option

Edwards departed Tottenham Hotspur last year in the quest to secure regular first-team action and you could argue that his decision has been fully vindicated.

He was once described by Sky Sports as "a left-footed attacking midfielder, with a low centre of gravity and lightning-quick feet, Edwards is considered one of the brightest talents in his age group."

In 36 appearances last season, the Englishman provided nine goals and nine assists which includes goals in the Europa League against Arsenal and Frankfurt.

As per WhoScored, Edwards also averaged 3.4 dribbles, 1.7 shots, 1.4 key passes and 0.8 crosses per game in the Primeira Liga.

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino once likened the young winger to fellow countryman Lionel Messi, he said: "The qualities - it's only looks, his body and the way that he plays - remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi. He (Edwards) is a very good prospect and potentially he can be a top player, but we need to be patient and tell him that he has a lot of talent, enough talent to be a top player, a great player. But now it's how he builds his future, that's very important."

Whilst teammate at one-time loan club Excelsior Jeffry Fortes backed up such a revelation, adding: "He is of a bizarre level, what he can do is really not normal, I have not experienced a better player in my career, and Mauricio Pochettino did not make that comparison with Messi for nothing. He is for many the hired player of Tottenham Hotspur, not Marcus Edwards, and of course, it is also incredible that he is walking around here, let’s face it."

Edwards is currently valued at just £11.7m by Transfermarkt and whilst it remains to be seen how much he'd cost before Monday, he'd surely come cheaper than Kent, and there's no guarantee that James will be able to leave Old Trafford this window either.

The 21-year-old could thrive under Bielsa's stewardship and really show that Spurs were wrong to give up on him so prematurely.

AND in other news, Leeds could reignite interest in £20m speedster if they can't nab Bielsa's no.1 target...