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30th Dec, 2016 | 3:39pm

Leeds line up January raid for 21-year-old powerhouse after glittering dossier - report

By Will Butcher

Leeds are lining up a January raid for defender Liam Lindsay after scouts watched him play for Partick Thistle this week, according to a report.

The Daily Record claim that Leeds scouts were hugely impressed by the young defender, as Partick secured a 2-0 win over Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee.

It is said that the Elland Road spies have compiled a glittering dossier and believe he could be a “major asset” in their bid to secure promotion in the second half of the season.

However, the Yorkshire giants must do battle with Portsmouth and Birmingham for the 6ft 3in powerhouse after the two sides were also in attendance on Wednesday night.

Lindsay has burst onto the scene this season after scoring six goals in 24 league and cup appearances including strikes against Hearts, Kilmarnock and high flying Celtic.

Partick’s number five has already 53 appearances for his boyhood club and could be brought to Elland Road to provide cover for the likes of Kyle Bartley, Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson.

With on-loan Swansea defender Bartley currently sidelined with a knee injury, Monk’s side possess just two fit defenders and Lindsay would provide adequate cover at the heart of the Yorkshire giants’ defence.

However, it remains to be seen how much Partick manager Alan Archibald charges for his star defender, who has a contract at Firhill until May 2019.

Football Insider verdict: 

Leeds must do whatever it takes to bring Lindsay to Yorkshire. The young defender has shown both class and maturity at the back for Partick this season after becoming one of the first names on Archibald’s team sheet. Possessing a string physique, Lindsay would be more than suited to the physical demands of England’s second division and with his best years ahead of him, the defender could easily adapt to the quality of the Premier League. With both Jansson and Bartley on loan and Cooper showing defensive fragility against Aston Villa on Thursday by needlessly handling in the penalty area, Lindsay should be brought in to provide defensive cover for promotion chasing Leeds.

In other Leeds transfer news, this international defender will be permanently signed in Janaury according to a reliable journalist.