Leeds United have set funds aside to bolster Marcelo Bielsa's playing squad in one key area...

What's the word?

That's according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who dropped a fresh claim to supporters on Twitter this week. When asked about potential names or positions the club were looking at, he replied:

"There was 15m set aside for a midfielder …"

Short and sweet, but this should come as no surprise as the Yorkshire giants have been on the lookout for a new option in the engine room for quite some time and they failed to find someone during the summer.

Some of the names linked to Leeds in recent months include out-of-contract Reading playmaker John Swift, Huddersfield Town dynamo Lewis O'Brien and Marseille sensation Boubacar Kamara.

Bielsa needs it

The fact that United have been trying to sign a new midfielder for the last few windows speaks volumes and that addition is needed now more than ever.

Bielsa's side have struggled for form and consistency throughout the 2021/22 campaign, as highlighted by results this year already. After beating Burnley in the Premier League in a six-pointer to move eight points clear of the relegation zone, the Whites were defeated by West Ham United in the FA Cup.

Injuries have certainly played their part, with as many as 11 players expected to be absent ahead of another clash against the Irons, this time back in the league.

One of those is England international Kalvin Phillips, who plays an integral role as Bielsa's lynchpin in defensive midfield - capable of spraying the ball around the pitch, he is often the start of many attack, whilst only two players manage more tackles per game than him, proving to be a brick wall in front of the backline at times.

Then there are players like Mateusz Klich - long a mainstay under the Argentine head coach - who have been underperforming and holding the team back.

That is exactly why a new midfielder is paramount to their chances of improvement this season.

Although, the fact that Nixon claims some money was set aside for one is certainly encouraging and if you're Bielsa, you've got to be encouraged by what you're hearing from the Elland Road hierarchy.

He will surely be buzzing by this heading into the remainder of the window. It's now on Victor Orta and co to deliver for their manager.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Meslier: Leeds lightweight who lost 86% duels badly let Bielsa down vs West Ham...