Barnsley are hunting a central midfielder and striker after securing Gethin Jones on loan from Everton. The 21-year-old full-back became the Reds' first new signing of the January transfer window when he joined on Wednesday.
Barnsley are also looking at Sunderland central midfielder Ethan Robson – a 20-year-old who is yet to play a first team game – and 18-goal Grimsby striker Omar Bogle. Heckingbottom told the Chronicle: "We needed a full-back, a centre mid and a centre forward. When we look at what we are missing from the team that got us up to eighth, we have Yids (Andy Yiadom) who has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations, Sam Morsy who has gone back to Wigan and Sam Winnall who has gone to Sheffield Wednesday. We've got Gethin in, so we need a centre mid and a striker and then we want to do even more deals."
Heckingbottom says it has been difficult to recruit players this window. He added: "We are doing well in the league but, in terms of what we can pay, we are not as attractive as any club in the league. With loans, we are always waiting on the parent club. Gethin was ready to come in for a long time but we've only just been able to get him."
The Reds boss – who said he wanted to add more defensive-minded players to the squad – says many of the other signings are likely to be young players on loan from Premier League clubs like Jones. He said: "It could be that we mainly bring in young loan players on loan. We know we will always rely on loans and we have to get the right ones in.
"Clubs know their players will get a chance to play here and players know they can build their reputation with us. We're always looking for players to have a short-term impact but also players we can develop and then they might make the club some money in the future.
"It would be great to get players in who can plug gaps in the short-term and be long-term projects for us as well, but it might be two different aspects."
Heckingbottom would like to make the Jones deal permanent in the summer. The Australian-born Wales youth international has played once for Everton in the Europa League and had an eight-game loan at League Two Plymouth two seasons ago.
The Reds boss said: "He's an attack-minded full-back and he's played in other positions as well. He's very much the type of player we have recruited in the past because he's athletic and hungry. It will be a big step up for him."
