BARNSLEY are set to ramp up their recruitment in the final fortnight before the new season starts while captain Luca Connell remains at Oakwell.
There are now just two weeks remaining until the opening match of the League One season, when Barnsley visit Plymouth Argyle on August 2, and six and a half until the transfer window closes on Monday, September 1.
The Reds have brought in goalkeeper Murphy Cooper, left-back Nathanael Ogbeta and forwards Reyes Cleary and David McGoldrick.
They are hoping to add some new names to the squad who are set to go away for a pre-season training camp in the second half of next week.
As of Thursday, some deals were in advanced stages.
They have been linked with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Caylan Vickers who is thought to be one name on a list of loan options – and is on Brighton’s training camp in Spain this week – while the Reds are also working on permanent signings.
Barnsley are thought to be looking to recruit in all outfield positions this summer but the most urgent appear to be wingers, with only new signing Cleary plus some converted wing-backs, and right-back where centre-back Mael de Gevigney has been operating throughout pre-season.
Meanwhile, Connell has been the subject of unsuccessful bids from Barnsley’s League One rivals Wycombe Wanderers across the summer.
Reports over the weekend that an offer had been accepted are understood to have been wide of the mark.
As reported in last week’s Chronicle, there have been multiple bids from Wycombe which have all been rejected.
But none were close to the £1.3million figure that has been quoted.
It is unclear if the Chairboys will come back in with a larger bid in the near future for Connell.
The Reds were widely expected to sell key players this summer to balance the books with a predicted £8-10million loss across the season which is about to start.
Selling players could also allow them to pay fees for players whereas currently they are mainly looking at free transfers and loan deals.
Barnsley are thought to have been telling clubs their valuation for last season’s top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn is north of £5million.
Others thought to be attracting some interest are midfielders Adam Phillips and Jon Russell – with the latter now back in training after being given extra time off having played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Jamaica over the summer.
At least one sale appears to be a clear possibility but it is unclear who will leave and for what price.
Fringe players are also likely to be moved on.
The likes of Corey O’Keeffe and Kyran Lofthouse could be loaned out or sold with Hourihane no longer wanting to play with wing-backs.
Kacper Lopata is likely to be loaned out for a third time after spells at Port Vale and Ross County.
Another loan is also possible for striker Andy Dallas who has been leant by the Reds to Kilmarnock, Oldham Athletic, Barrow and Morecambe since signing two years ago.
The striker, who will be 26 on Tuesday, has not featured in any of the Reds’ pre-season friendlies so far but has been present at the games.
