Swansea set for six-way battle for Australian ace

With the January transfer window rapidly approaching, clubs are on the hunt for new recruits that can steer them towards promotion or survival. Luckily for Swansea, the Welsh side are in the first bracket and they have set their sights towards Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes.

Who is he? Well, Lyndon Dykes is an Australian-born forward. His footballing career has so far taken him to Scotland to Australia and back again with the powerful forward finally settling at the Scottish Championship club Queen of the South in 2016 where he netted ten times in 86 league appearances and nine times in 31 cup appearances.

His form precipitated a move to Scottish Premiership club Livingston in January 2019 - an agreement in which Dykes would be loaned back to the Dumfries club to end the 2018-19 season at Palmerston Park, scoring a further three goals in 15 appearances.

Since moving to Livingston, the striker has netted five times and registered two assists in 14 appearances, including one in the West Lothian's side's famous victory over Celtic in October. Despite the attention of many English and Welsh clubs, Dykes signed a new contract with Livingston in September until the end of the 2022 season.

But, in football, contracts can often mean little and Dykes is now subject to a huge amount of rumour surrounding his future. And, it's claimed that Livingston may choose to cash in in January when the transfer window re-opens.

South Wales seems to be on red alert as Swansea's main rivals Cardiff also appear to be monitoring the 24-year-old. But these two are not alone either as six Championship clubs are believed to be keen on making a move, with Middlesbrough, Bristol City, Derby and Blackburn among Dykes' suitors.

Though able to play in a number of positions in the final third, mainly as the main striker, he has also operated on either wing and in the no.10 role.

Dykes sporting silver hair

Yet, it's his disciplinary record that may deter some clubs. He has already accumulated five yellow cards this term, and was sent of in Livingston’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers in September.

It's not yet clear just how much cash it would take to prise the striker from Scotland to join a club in England or Wales, but for the time being, he is certainly one to look out for ahead of January with Swansea said to be keen on a player that throws up memories of an 'old school no.9'. 

Standing at 6ft 2ins and with the physique that rugby players would be proud of, the Australian powerhouse possesses fearsome aerial strength and hold up play that allows him to bully his opponents. He would surely fit in in the second tier of English football, it just remains to be seen who wants him the most.