An in-depth look into each area of the Reds’ squad as they try to rebuild under Conor Hourihane

STRIKERS

Keeping Davis Keillor-Dunn feels absolutely crucial after he scored 19 goals and added seven assists during a fantastic first season with the Reds.

But he will certainly have attracted interest and, given their straightened financial circumstances, Barnsley may find a substantial seven-figure bid hard to reject.

He has been a revelation as a striker, having previously played mainly as an attacking midfielder, and finished the season in the middle of the front three – a ‘false nine’ with wingers going past him.

Whether he leaves or not, the Reds will surely be looking for more quantity and quality in the striker options.

Max Watters has not scored consistently enough throughout his Reds career while Andy Dallas, who has another year on his deal, netted six goals on loan in League Two last season and may be loaned out by Barnsley for a fifth time.

The Reds are still working with the remnants of the transfer windows in 2023 which saw them bring in Oli Shaw, Sam Cosgrove, Dallas and Watters – all strikers who have not been successful.

Youngsters Kieran Graham and Luke Alker were involved at the end of the season.

WINGERS

Hourihane wants to use exciting wingers, who have pace and quality, but Barnsley do not have many players who fit that description after years of recruitment for 3-5-2.

He was having to play wing-backs in those roles towards the end of the last campaign, and Barry Cotter put his hat in the ring by regularly beating defenders then setting up chances and a goal although his end product can still get better.

Kyran Lofthouse can also play as a winger but his future is unclear after a loan at Burton Albion.

Stephen Humphrys has thrived as a left-winger under Hourihane, with five goals in his last five games, but he is out of contract and in negotiations with the club over a new one.

Fabio Jalo is also perfect for the system but is set to miss the start of the season due to injury.

At least two players in that position will probably have to arrive this summer.

MIDFIELDERS

The central three has been the source of so much praise and talent in recent years but, while there is still some real ability there, that area will need changes this summer.

Barnsley have to sell and Adam Phillips feels like one of those who could go, with his very successful Reds career going slightly stale and him being in and out under Hourihane.

At 27, with two years left on his deal including an option, it might be the summer for him to move on if he, the Reds and a buying club can all find a deal which suits them.

That leaves Luca Connell and Jon Russell – who both may also have interest but at this moment appear more likely to stay – plus Kelechi Nwakali, who has struggled for gametime under Hourihane, and highly-rated 19-year-olds Vimal Yoganathan and Jonathan Bland.

Russell had an excellent end to the season and is well-liked by Hourihane so could flourish again, while captain Connell showed some late signs of improvement after returning to his defensive midfield position.

Connell and Nwakali can play the anchor role but the Reds will at least need to bring in more competition for the attacking ‘number eight’ positions either side.

RIGHT-BACKS

Hourihane has changed formation from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 and says that will continue into next season.

That means Barnsley will now require full-backs in a back four compared to wing-backs in the previous system – a slightly different skillset.

Barry Cotter is in the process of being converted from wing-back into a winger, while Kyran Lofthouse has similar attributes.

Jonathan Bland played at right-back under Hourihane but sees himself more as a midfielder in the future.

Corey O’Keeffe has been the first choice on the right flank for most of the last two seasons but had a poor second half of the last campaign and struggled for regular gametime under Hourihane.

Dexter Lembikisa improved during his loan and received praise from Hourihane but he was erratic and it is unclear if the Reds will try to bring back the Jamaica international who has another year on his contract at Premier League Wolves.

LEFT-BACKS

Barnsley surely need at least one player in this position.

Josh Earl finished the season at left-back and recorded several assists. But he is more of a ‘centre-back playing one over’ type of full-back with the Reds potentially looking for a player with more pace and attacking intent on that wing.

Georgie Gent is expected to miss much of 2025, if not all of it, with an Achilles injury.

Neil Farrugia finished the season with what is thought to be a less serious injury but there will be question marks over whether he can play at left-back in a back four having mainly been an attacker before converting to wing-back.

Teenager Bayley McCann made his debut under Darrell Clarke but was not one of the young players Hourihane chose to blood in the first team, although he has been offered a new deal.

CENTRE-BACKS

The Reds conceded 90 goals last season in all competitions and kept only six league clean sheets.

While that is not purely down to the centre-backs, it is certainly an area that needs looking at – even if the answers can be found within the squad.

The Reds have plenty of options, if they are only going to play two in the 4-3-3 system, despite having just released two in Conor McCarthy and Donovan Pines.

Marc Roberts, Mael de Gevginey and Josh Earl were the first choice back three when fit for most of last season.

Jack Shepherd is coming back from a stellar loan at promoted League Two club Bradford City, with the Reds keen to use him next season.

Those four will all expect to start so it might be difficult to accommodate each of them. But there may be enough quality in that quartet to find a solid League One central defensive combination.

Then there is Kacper Lopata, who has also done well on loan at Ross County but could be one of the players moved on to free up funds.

Connor Barratt, 21, has been given a new year-long contract after generally impressing in his limited appearances late in the season.

GOALKEEPERS

The Reds have almost always had a solid goalkeeper over the last 20 years – Nick Colgan, Heinz Muller, Luke Steele, Adam Davies and Brad Collins.

But they used five last season and will look for some stability now.

Jackson Smith is the only senior goalkeeper signed up for next season.

He was often third choice during his first campaign at Oakwell and is recovering from an injury.

Academy graduate Kieren Flavell showed some promise after replacing Smith and Barnsley have offered him a new contract while he has been monitored by Premier League clubs.

Joe Gauci’s loan from Aston Villa was injury-plagued but the fact that he returned to replace academy player Flavell in dead rubbers at the end of season suggests the Reds are considering bringing the Australia international back. Gauci did not make many errors but also few stand-out saves.