BARNSLEY are hoping to step up their summer recruitment in the coming days, with several deals close, but goalkeeper Brad Collins is expected to leave.
The Reds are understood to be close to securing the signing of Halifax Town defender Jesse Debrah and also making progress on bringing in at least one new striker.
Collins is thought to be extremely close to a move to Championship club Coventry City.
The transfer window has now been open for a month while there are three weeks until the start of the League One season on August 5 when the Reds host Port Vale.
Head coach Neill Collins started work at Oakwell this week after replacing Michael Duff.
So far the Reds have brought in defenders Kacper Lopata and Jack Shepherd as well as goalkeeper Ben Killip – all from non-league clubs. They could add a fourth player from non-league in Debrah who is a free agent after his Halifax contract expired but they may have to pay compensation as he is 22.
The Londoner came through the Millwall academy but has been at Halifax for the last two seasons.
If he arrives, Debrah will add depth to a centre-back department weakened by the sale of captain Mads Andersen to Luton Town for about £3million and the departure of loanee Bobby Thomas.
The Reds are also interested in striker Andy Dallas, the Chronicle understands.
The 23-year-old Scot is a free agent after turning down a new deal at National League club Solihull Moors.
He spent the end of last season on loan at Chesterfield, netting seven goals in his last six games including in the play-off final loss to Notts County at Wembley.
There is thought to be a possibility of bringing back at least one of last season’s loanee forwards Max Watters and Slobodan Tedic who have returned to parent clubs Cardiff City and Manchester City respectively.
According to reports, Barnsley have had a bid rejected for Salford City right-back Luke Bolton and are also interested in Grimsby Town midfielder Harry Clifton.
The Reds are expected to sign another goalkeeper to compete with Killip who joined last week after leaving Hartlepool United after their relegation.
Collins, 26, has one year left on his contract while he admitted in May to the Chronicle that he was not sure if he would stay at Barnsley for this coming season.
They also have Jamie Searle, Paul Cooper, Adam Hayton and Kieran Flavell but they are all under 23 and none have started a game in professional league football.
Collins had been a regular in goal for more than two years before picking up an injury in February and being replaced by loanee Harry Isted who kept his place for the rest of the season but has since joined Charlton Athletic.
Collins has made 117 appearances for the Reds since joining from Chelsea in 2019.
He could reunite with former Chelsea coach and mentor Adi Viveash – assistant to Mark Robins at Coventry – and return to the second tier where he has impressed for Barnsley.
Callum Styles’ future is also unclear, but he is now back training with Barnsley.
The 23-year-old midfielder was given extra time off after international duty with Hungary and came back this week.
He spent last season on loan at Championship Millwall, having started the first eight matches for the Reds.
Styles is contracted until 2025 but there is a release clause which is reportedly £2million. Watford – managed by Valerien Ismael for whom Styles excelled at Barnsley – are thought to be interested in signing him.
Others with just a year left on their contracts include wing-backs Jordan Williams and Nicky Cadden, midfielder Herbie Kane and strikers Devante Cole and James Norwood.
