Leeds United are currently pushing league leaders Norwich City all the way in their attempt to regain the top spot in the Championship standings.

Marcelo Bielsa has been a revelation since his arrival at Elland Road but the most challenging spell he will face as a manager in the second tier is yet to come.

Teams up and down the land are set to face a gruelling festive fixture pile-up with no less than five games in the space of 18 days before an FA Cup tie to round off the Christmas period.

Along with the busy festive season, the January transfer window opens at the start of the new year, too and with so many fixtures that could make or break a season – the first month of 2019 will be crucial into how the rest of the campaign will pan out.

If Leeds are to keep pace with the Canaries at the top of the league, they will need to get through Christmas relatively unscathed, which looks like it could be a tough ask considering their recent injury crisis in defence.

In attacking areas, too, the Whites have been somewhat blunt, and if they want to score the goals that will get them to the Premier League, they will need to improve on what they have.

One such player who could be keen on a return to the second tier is Benfica attacker Adel Taarabt.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, they are reporting that there is Championship interest in the Morocco international who has failed to play a single game for Benfica this season and could be offloaded in the new year with second-tier sides in England all said to be interested.

His availability should alert many sides who are vying for a place at the higher end of the division, especially a Leeds outfit who could do with more creativity in the final third.

With that said, here are two reasons why Leeds United should move for out-of-favour Benfica man.

Adel Taarabt has the experience of getting out of the Championship when he was in the form of his life when at Queens Park Rangers.

He knows the second tier and how it works and what is needed to get out of it.

The Benfica attacker hasn’t played this season so a move to a new club could see him with a point to prove and look to play to his best to show fans what he can still achieve.

Leeds fans are desperate for a return to the top flight and Taarabt could be the man to help them realise their dream.

Ezgjan Alioski and Samuel Saiz have been out of form somewhat in recent weeks, and the boost of a new attacking influence could inject Leeds with the needed flair and trickery to get them higher up the pitch and improve their creativity in the final third.

The two attackers have not been efficient enough on the ball and in front of goal and a player who would boost those stats would be Adel Taarabt.

He has pace, power, strength and a high level of technical ability that would make him an instant hit with the Elland Road faithful.

It would be shot in the dark for Marcelo Bielsa considering the Moroccan’s previous attitude issues at previous clubs.

But he is the archetypical Bielsa signing and would improve Leeds no end and could well be the spark to light up the rest of their season and secure them promotion to the Premier League.