THIS week has been quiet on the transfer front at Barnsley after last week’s flurry of incomings but they are hopeful for more activity soon as they enter the final month before the new season.
The transfer window has now been open for four weeks with the Reds selling Adam Phillips and Jackson Smith then bringing in Cameron McGeehan, Isaac Smith and Clayton Taylor plus under 21s defender Calum Hudson.
The season is due to start in less than a month when the Reds host Wigan Athletic in the EFL Cup on August 8 before the first League One game takes place a week later at home to Bromley.
Barnsley are interested in Tyrese Noslin who played at the World Cup for Curacao and is under contract at Dutch top flight outfit Telstar. Other deals are thought to be progressing including with at least one striker and at least one goalkeeper.
Their only current frontman is Leo Farrell, 20, who has never started for them but scored in the friendly at Matlock Town on Saturday and is expected to be involved in the first team squad this season.
Players responsible for 48 of Barnsley’s 68 league goals last season have left the club.
They are sold players Davis Keillor-Dunn and Adam Phillips, David McGoldrick and Eoghan O’Connell who turned down new deals, released duo Tennai Watson and Jon Russell plus departed loanees Caylan Vickers, Scott Banks and Tom Bradshaw.
Of the remaining goals, the majority were scored by Luca Connell and Reyes Cleary who are both thought to be of interest to other clubs.
The Reds are holding out for a substantial multi-million pound offer for winger Cleary after rejecting bids throughout the year.
The 22-year-old, who scored seven goals and made the most assists in the EFL with 13 last season, netted and set one up at Matlock on Saturday.
There is less clarity over midfielder Connell who agreed a later return date than most players to pre-season with the club and did not feature at Matlock.
He was close to moving to League One rivals Luton Town in January and has been linked with them again this summer.
Connell, who is the longest-serving first team player and captained the Reds last season, has one year left on his contract but the club can extend it for a further season.
Earlier in the summer, chief executive Jon Flatman said: “We’ll listen to all offers. If it’s right for the club and it’s right for Luca, I’m sure we’ll do something.
“If it’s not, then I’m sure Luca will be a professional under contract and play for the club.”
Like Connell, defender Mael de Gevigney did not play in the friendly at Matlock on Saturday.
De Gevigney, 26, has been at Oakwell for three seasons and the Reds triggered an option to add another year to his contract this summer.
Midfielder Patrick Kelly is another thought to be admired by other clubs.
But the Reds are understood to have a significant valuation for the Northern Ireland international, 21, who is contracted until 2029 including an option.
The Reds are also thought to be looking for a new goalkeeper with academy graduates Kieren Flavell, 22, and Rogan Ravenhill, 20, the only current stoppers. They are also expected to try to add to the defence with many remaining from the backline which shipped 99 goals last season as well as young additions Smith and Hudson.
The only right-back is Corey O’Keeffe while Georgie Gent and Josh Earl can play on the left.
Former Barnsley forward Jacob Brown, who worked with Stendel during his first spell at Oakwell, has signed for Reading.
