Conor Hourihane said Barnsley have received no ‘fresh bids’ for the likes of Davis Keillor-Dunn and Reyes Cleary but he admits the interest in them has intensified recently.
Reds top-scorer Keillor-Dunn is thought to have been the subject of approaches from Championship teams this window. Barnsley have also turned down multiple bids this window for winger Cleary.
Hourihane said: “I wouldn’t say fresh bids, but there is obviously interest. We have very talented players in the building so there will always be some interest towards them. There is no hiding that both had interest in the last few days.
“There has been a little bit of speculation but it’s something we need to handle and make sure we’re in really good place going into weekend. It’s near the end of the window and things get ramped up even more so. With the two games as well, it’s a really important few days for the club.”
Hourihane said that if anyone was sold the club would have a plan to replace them.
“It would be wrong to say I will be left with no bodies and we won’t get any replacements. There is plan in place, we have to be fully prepared if anything was to happen. I am hoping Davo and Reyes here after Monday.
“But we need to realise every player has a price - from Kieren Flavell to Georgie Gent.”
In terms of incomings, Hourihane said he was still interested in two forwards but it was more likely to happen after Saturday's game with Stevenage than before.
Hourihane said reports of a Reds move for Wexford left-back Jack Crawford were incorrect.
Defender Jack Taylor has moved from Sutton to Stevenage, with reports claiming Barnsley had wanted him.
Hourihane said: “He was a name mentioned on recruitment calls. I said at the fans’ forum if we were going to get someone in defence someone would have to leave and no one has left. Jack is someone who came into thought process in case someone left but no one did. Reports that we were outbid are completely wrong.”
Cleary came off injured in the 4-0 loss at Cardiff on Tuesday.
“We think he’s OK. It was just an initial precaution. He didn’t feel great, his workload has been really heavy in the last couple of months. I don’t think it’s anything serious and he should be fine.”
Striker David McGoldrick missed the midweek match with a knock.
Hourihane said: “He should be in and around contention. It’s an important couple of days on the grass. If he gets through Thursday and Friday, he will be involved.”
