CONOR Hourihane turns 35 on Monday’s transfer deadline day and is hoping his birthday presents from Barnsley FC are his star players staying, despite increased interest in recent days, and a couple more attacking signings.

The January transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday.

The Reds have so far brought in Eoghan O’Connell, Owen Goodman, Charlie Lennon and Scott Banks while letting seven fringe players leave.

Championship club Wrexham are understood to have made an offer for their former player and Barnsley’s top-scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn, with Preston North End and Bristol City also linked, but as of Thursday afternoon nothing was thought to have been accepted. Winger Reyes Cleary has also been the subject of multiple rejected bids this window and is still at target for various clubs including, reportedly, Sheffield United.

Barnsley are understood to be willing to sell for their valuation which is thought to be significant seven-figure sums in both cases, while the club has not sold a starting first team player in January since Brad Potts in 2019.

Hourihane admitted interest had intensified in the duo and that, while he hoped they would stay, the Reds had plans for replacements if there was a sale.

They are thought to be looking for two more attacking players, including a pacy striker, but that list could grow if anyone is sold. Signings are more likely on deadline day than before Saturday’s home game with Stevenage.

Young forwards Fabio Jalo and Leo Farrell are expected to be loaned out if players are brought in in their positions.

The Reds are keen to move on Nigeria international midfielder Kelechi Nwakali who has been excluded from Hourihane’s first team this season.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: “We want a couple of attacking players in. Hopefully that will be the end of it because everyone has stayed.

“Things can change from that point of view so let’s see what happens.

“If it’s a really simple end to the window, we need an attacker with pace that we haven’t been blessed with that for a little bit of time. That is something we are obviously looking at. Hopefully that can be the case. Hopefully it is a clean end to the window but who knows?”

Hourihane admits the speculation might be impacting Keillor-Dunn and Cleary in different ways.

“It’s my job to make sure all players are in a really good place not just Davo and Reyes.

“We need to be in a good mindset at the weekend after Tuesday night.

“With Davo, naturally he’s 28 years old and a little bit more mature and experienced and knows how to handle these scenarios a little bit more than Reyes.

“He had it coming to this club from Mansfield, we played them on the first day of the season. It’s probably new territory for Reyes. They are two players on different scales.”

The deadline day will also be Hourihane’s 35th birthday.

He told the Chronicle: “I don’t think I will be blowing out any candles on Monday If I am being honest. It will be my birthday but that’s not at the forefront of my mind, unfortunately.

“I have got a couple of games and busy days in the transfer window.

“Hopefully come Wednesday, which will be our next day off, there will be a nice little delayed birthday after a couple of important performances and a positive end to the window – fingers crossed.”

Hourihane previously said he would only be able to bring in a new defender if one left. He admitted the Reds had looked at Jack Taylor, who joined tomorrow’s visitors Stevenage from non-league Sutton this week, but did not try to sign him because they had not moved anyone on. They are now likely to stick with their centre-back options of O’Connell, Marc Roberts, Tennai Watson, Josh Earl – who is injured until March – Mael de Gevigney and Jack Shepherd.

“As it stands, it will be the ones in the building. I don’t see that changing.

“Josh Earl has thrown that into attention with his injury. Georgie (Gent) may have gone out on loan if Josh stayed fit. We need to stay all together from a defensive point of view and moving anyone out without any replacement would be the wrong thing to do completely.

“From a defensive point of view that will be us.”

The Reds have been linked with Irish left-back James Crawford from Wexford.

Hourihane said: “It’s not to my knowledge that he’s going to come in the building any time soon. That’s probably one not to have too much attention on.”

Barnsley host seventh-placed Stevenage then third-bottom Northampton either side of deadline day.

Hourihane said: “The next few days, with the two games and transfer deadline day, is a really important time for the club to come through in a really strong place and send a message out that, regardless of players coming or going, we are moving in right direction.

“It’s a really important moment and we need to come through it looking really strong. It will definitely paint a picture. After the Northampton game, there will be a clear picture of where everyone sees the club going. From Tuesday, people will understand the direction of the club moving forward.”

After this week’s two home games, Barnsley are due to visit Bolton Wanderers on February 7 then Stevenage three days later before hosting AFC Wimbledon on Valentine’s Day and Peterborough United the following Tuesday.