Leeds United transfer target Nahitan Nandez may have played his final game for Cagliari amid interest from the Premier League...

What's the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Yorkshireman are one of two top-flight teams monitoring the Uruguay international ahead of the January transfer window.

The 25-year-old was withdrawn early during their 4-0 defeat to Udinese with an injury, so with the Serie A now on a winter break, he may well not feature for Gli Isolani again.

After being denied an exit in the summer, Nandez could be available for less than his reported €36m (£30m) release clause.

Bielsa's dream January signing

Nandez would be something of a dream signing for Bielsa, and not just because of their mounting injury crisis.

The 49-cap dynamo has regularly been linked with a move to Elland Road since the Argentine took the dugout, which should come as no surprise given his work rate and ability to cover so much ground, at both ends of the pitch.

He would seemingly be a perfect fit for his high-intensity pressing system at Leeds.

Lauded as a "machine" by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, Nandez has averaged 2.4 aerial duels won - despite being 5 foot 7 - as well as two tackles, 1.5 dribbles and 1.1 key passes per game in the Serie A this term, via WhoScored.

"I think he’s only about five foot seven, but you wouldn’t know it if you just watched clips of him, he is a little bit of a machine. He’s so powerful but at the same time, has really, really good ball control," he told This is Futbol.

As evident, the £18m-rated box-to-box enforcer has plenty of attributes that should catch the 66-year-old's eye.

Leeds have struggled greatly so far this season and a number of his usually trusted stalwarts have let him down, none more so than Mateusz Klich, who ranks amongst his three worst performers. He has not completed the entire duration of a Premier League match since September, even though he's made 13 appearances.

Three of his last four matches has seen him surpass a 6.0 rating just once, whilst he's averaging fewer tackles and dribbles per game than Nandez.

United director of football Victor Orta could well seal Biela a solid upgrade to his engine room with a move for the Cagliari star this January.

AND in other news, Leeds dealt big January transfer blow over Bielsa target...