BARNSLEY look set for a summer of interest in star player Davis Keillor-Dunn.
The Reds are expected to sell players this summer, to offset a projected £8-10million shortfall next season, but head coach Conor Hourihane has said he is hopeful of holding onto Keillor-Dunn.
There is thought to have been an unsuccessful approach for the Reds’ 19-goal top-scorer already from a fellow League One club. Several Championship clubs have also been linked with the forward who was nominated for League One Player of the Year.
Only a significant multi-million fee is likely to tempt Barnsley to sell the 27-year-old who has three years left on his contract including an option.
It is currently unclear if there will be a club willing to offer that sort of money for him.
Keillor-Dunn is thought to be happy at Barnsley, having just moved his family to the area.
The future of midfielder Adam Phillips is unclear as well as loaned-out players such as Kacper Lopata and Kyran Lofthouse.
The Reds are now three weeks into their off-season following their 12th-placed finish in League One in the 2024/25 campaign. The players are due back at Oakwell throughout this period for a few ‘check-in days’ to monitor their fitness – a new feature brought in by Hourihane – before returning for pre-season in a month, for the final week of June. The new season is due to begin on the weekend of August 1-3.
There are expected to be significant changes to the Reds squad throughout the summer.
The transfer window opens in just over a week on June 1, then closes again on the tenth for six days before re-opening until deadline day on September 1.
The Reds are thought to be have been in discussions with a host of free agents, including some of Hourihane’s former team-mates, as they look to do early business before pre-season begins.
Barnsley are thought to be looking for wingers as Hourihane wants to play with wide men unlike his predecessors, but every position could be strengthened throughout the window in which he is looking for a ‘reset’.
The Reds are in contract negotiations with winger Stephen Humphrys and goalkeeper Kieren Flavell along with a host of younger players, after their deals expired this summer.
