Leeds scouts blown away by British centre-back who impressed v top-flight champs on Sat – report
Leeds United scouts were “hugely impressed” by the performance of Dundee United teenager Lewis Neilson when they watched the 17-year-old defender on Saturday, according to The Courier.
The Scottish newspaper reports that scouts from Leeds, Everton, Leicester City and Southampton all watched over the Scotland youth international as he played in the 1-0 defeat to Celtic at Tannadice.
Although Neilson ended up on the losing side and was substituted off after 60 minutes, Leeds’ recruitment spies were left happy with what they saw but it is understood that Dundee United would only accept a seven-figure fee for the teen sensation.
Neilson is said to have risen through the academy ranks at Tannadice as a central midfielder but has since been developed into a centre-back who can play at right-back.
He played at right-back against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic at the weekend, with stats by WyScout showing that he made one recovery, two clearances, three interceptions and won both of the loose ball duels he was involved in.
According to The Courier, Neilson is “viewed as the pick of the bunch” among Dundee United’s latest scholars from their academy.
Journalist Eric Nicolson wrote that the 17-year-old has the “pace, composure and physical attributes to get to a high level in the game”.
Leeds’ scouts seem to have seen that at the weekend too, with the versatile Scottish youngster putting in a display that led to a newly-promoted side losing by just one goal to Celtic, which is a huge accomplishment.
It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Leeds have already signed a number of young players this summer but there is definitely room for another player who can play at centre-back.
Of course, Neilson would have to ditch first-team football in the Scottish Premiership to presumably play for Leeds’ Under-23s but maybe the Whites can strike a deal with Dundee United that sees him spend the rest of this season back on loan at his current club.
In other Leeds United news, Victor Orta has delivered a two-word verdict on the Rodrigo deal.