BARNSLEY will look to back up their impressive recent form with good work in the transfer window, with goalkeeper and striker two of the main target areas.
The Reds are currently sixth in League One, with 39 points from 24 games, moving back into the play-off places after three straight wins.
This week, they won 2-1 both at Peterborough United on Sunday and at home to high-flying Wrexham on Wednesday. They now host lowly Crawley Town tomorrow.
The January transfer window opened on Wednesday and will close on Monday, February 3. The Reds are thought to be interested in signing at least one striker as well as potentially a left wing-back to be back-up and competition for Georgie Gent. They are also looking for a new goalkeeper with loanee Gaga Slonina returning to Chelsea, having been dropped for Ben Killip.
Slonina’s loan has been cut short, partly due to a hand injury which ruled him out from November and was still troubling him.
Another loanee Matty Craig may return to Tottenham Hotspur, but nothing had been confirmed as of yesterday.
The 21-year-old midfielder made 14 appearances for the Reds but his only start in the last three months was last week at home to Leyton Orient when he was taken off on 37 minutes and he has not been in the matchday squad since.
The Reds have been linked with Stoke City’s striker Niall Ennis who has been a previous target but the Chronicle understands he is not someone Barnsley are looking to bring in this window.
Barnsley could potentially look at the free agent market and have players come in for trials while they will be exploring domestic markets but also foreign leagues, with loans including a buy deal an appealing option.
Josh Benson is likely to leave during the window, if a move can be found for him. The midfielder, thought to be the highest-paid player at the club, has barely played in recent years due to injuries and his contract expires in the summer.
Striker Sam Cosgrove is another who could leave but has been in matchday squads regularly so could still force his way back into Darrell Clarke’s thinking like wing-back Barry Cotter appears to have done recently after a period of not being in squads. It is thought that the Reds will look to bring in new strikers before Cosgrove can move on. If they brought a new goalkeeper in, Jackson Smith – who has been on the bench recently – would likely be loaned out.
The Reds are determined to keep star players such as midfielders Adam Phillips and Luca Connell, as they look to go through a sixth successive January window without selling a starting player.
After a congested Christmas period, January is much less busy with no more midweek games until the end of the month. After hosting Crawley, Barnsley take on another side currently in the relegation battle when they travel to Northampton Town the following Saturday. A week after that, they go to Clarke’s former club Bristol Rovers – also currently in the bottom six – before hosting mid-table Stevenage on January 25 then visiting high-flying Wycombe the following Tuesday.
