Leeds United are not expected to do much business in the January transfer window, according to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross.

What's the word?

The ever-reliable journalist delivered a fresh claim to supporters in a recent Q&A on the website, where he said:

"We know the club and Bielsa do not see a lot of value in January, nor do they see the time available for new arrivals to have an impact before the season finishes, given how long they will need with the under-23s and on the training field to reach Bielsa's high standards.

"If Leeds are really in the thick of the bottom four or five teams when the window opens though, there surely has to be some frank conversations about the risks of not strengthening for the final stretch of the campaign.

"It will be interesting to see what compromises, if any, Bielsa or the hierarchy make in the window to get business done."

Worrying news

The Yorkshire giants are just one place and two points above the relegation zone heading into this weekend's fixtures and they could well drop inside it, depending on other results.

Marcelo Bielsa's side face the stiff test of Brighton and Hove Albion in Saturday's late kick-off, with the Seagulls currently occupying a place inside the top ten.

A lot of their struggles this season could be attributed to persistent injury problems to several key stars, including vice-captain Luke Ayling and leading striker Patrick Bamford, both of whom have missed several months of action.

Neither has a genuine alternative, so it's no wonder that United have suffered in recent games, and it would make their stubbornness to change their ways this January look stupid.

If Leeds are to avoid a relegation scrap all season, then they may well need to bolster the playing squad this winter, as failure to do so could leave Bielsa and co in a very precarious position.

This latest claim from Cross will surely leave those around Elland Road absolutely worried about what might lie ahead. The Whites have won just twice from 12 league games and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon with the aforementioned players still on the treatment table.

AND in other news, Leeds plot January swoop for "very gifted" £9m-rated "beast", Bielsa would be buzzing...