Aston Villa are thought to be monitoring Barnsley defender Liam Lindsay ahead of a potential transfer when the summer window opens.

Regardless of what division Villa are in, Dean Smith is set to have a very busy few months as he looks to reshape his squad.

Many of the current group are approaching the end of their current deal whilst several key men are only on loan.

So, good recruitment will be vital and Birmingham Live report that the Mirror believe Villa are among the clubs chasing the Barnsley centre-back.

The 23-year-old has been one of the outstanding players in League One and featured for the Tykes earlier today as they kept a seventh consecutive clean sheet.

However, a major problem for Villa will be the other clubs in for Lindsay, with the report stating that Celtic, Leeds, Brighton and Stoke are keen on the £5m-rated player.

Here we look at TWO reasons why it's vital Smith lands the player ahead of those interested sides...

He has his best years in front of him

A priority for Smith this summer will be to bring down the age of the squad and Lindsay fits the profile.

At 23, his best years are in front of him and Lindsay could become a key player in the heart of Villa's defence for the long-term.

He should fit into Smith's style

Following on from that, Lindsay is a player that should thrive under the guidance of Smith.

He is a very good natural defender and can also play out from the back. Chris Mepham is an example of someone who flourished under Smith and the Barnsley man should be confident of improving under the Villa boss.