BARNSLEY began their summer business with several signings this week but know there is plenty more work to do – especially with new strikers.
This week, the third of the transfer window, has seen the Reds announce the signings of their former player Cameron McGeehan on a free transferplus young defenders Isaac Smith and Calum Hudson.
Australian winger Clayton Taylor was expected to be announced last night.
They are thought to be paying a compensation fee to Newcastle Jets for the out-of-contract 22-year-old Taylor.
It is understood the Reds want two strikers – an area in which they are particularly light – another centre-back and a goalkeeper for the first 11 then to strengthen other areas such as full-back.
They will also look to replace anyone who leaves – with star winger Reyes Cleary and captain Luca Connell thought to be of interest to other clubs along with Northern Ireland international Patrick Kelly.
Connell returned to pre-season training yesterday having agreed with the club to come back at this time.
Barnsley have been linked to the purchase of right-back Tyrese Noslin, who played in the World Cup for Curacao and is with Dutch club Telstar but no deal was thought imminent as of Thursday.
The new season is due to start in just over a month on the weekend of August 8 while the Reds, who have been back in training for just over a week, play their first pre-season game at Matlock Town on Saturday.
Championship clubs such as Millwall and Derby County are reportedly interested in Cleary, 22, who netted seven goals and added 15 assists in his first EFL season after joining from West Bromwich Albion.
The Reds have rejected multiple approaches all year but would be willing to sell if a club meets their valuation which is thought to be a substantial seven-figure fee that might make him one of their highest ever sales.
The Baggies are thought to have a sell-on clause in the contract of Cleary, who has been training at Oakwell this week.
The Reds sold star midfielder Adam Phillips to Bradford City and goalkeeper Jackson Smith to Port Vale earlier in the summer window.
The signing of McGeehan leaves the Reds well-stocked with central midfielders as he joins Connell and Kelly plus academy products Jono Bland and Vimal Yoganathan.
Some of those players could potentially be used in attacking midfield or on the wings in Stendel’s usual 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formations.
Their natural wingers are Cleary, Taylor, plus 20-year-olds, Fabio Jalo and Charlie Lennon while their only current striker is Leo Farrell who is yet to make his full debut after coming through the youth system.
Isaac Smith, who is expected to play for the under 21s but add depth to the first team options, joins a centre-back department that includes Josh Earl – who can also play left-back – Mael de Gevigney and Jack Shepherd.
Connor Barratt and Kacper Lopata are also on the books following loans away from the club last season. Hudson, 18, is expected to start in the under 21s squad.
The Reds are expected to sign a goalkeeper this summer with the current stoppers being academy products Kieren Flavell and Rogan Ravenhill.
Corey O’Keeffe is the only senior right-back with Earl and Georgie Gent options on the left.
Some of the above players are likely to be loaned out or sold later in the summer if deemed surplus to requirements by Stendel.
McGeehan, 31, is now the oldest player in a very young squad.
The Reds had the fifth youngest squad in the division last season with an average age of 25 but that could come down significantly depending on their remaining signings.
The next oldest are O’Keeffe and Kelechi Nwakali, both 28, with the latter’s future unclear after barely playing last year, followed by Earl, 27, and de Gevigney, 26.
They also have 25-year-olds Connell, Shepherd and Lopata.
They have four 22-year-olds in Taylor, Reyes Cleary, Gent, Barratt and Flavell plus Patrick Kelly who is 21.
Bland, Yoganathan, Farrell, Jalo and Ravenhill were all in the same academy team and are now 20, while Smith is also that age.
