Under pressure Barnsley manager Keith Hill says he isn’t thinking much about the January transfer window but admits he is expecting bids for his players.
Top scorer Craig Davies has been targeted by Leicester City and Ipswich Town while John Stones has been linked with a £3million move to Premier League Wigan.
Hill doesn’t want a repeat of last season when Ricardo Vaz Te left Oakwell to join West Ham while Jacob Butterfield was ruled out with an injury and Manchester United loan midfielder Danny Drinkwater was snatched by Leicester.
Hill told the Chronicle that no bids had been received yet for any of his players.
“I’m not really thinking about the January transfer window. I thought we were safe this time last year. We had done the Danny Drinkwater deal and then Leicester came in for him. I also didn’t believe Ricardo would have gone and that would have seen us home comfortably.
“John Stones and Craig Davies in particular are having a lot of publicity surrounding them but there’s a few others too and clubs might think they can pinch the likes of Matty Done or Jacob Mellis.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if a few phone calls come my way but we have to be in a position to withstand those offers if possible.
“I think there’ll be business. I’m not sure what type of business or when. Let’s see what happens.
“We’ve got to be prepared but I’m optimistic we can keep the players that are already at this football club.
“I’m not in a position where I can over plan. It could be a result of us playing a team that is pushing for promotion and one of our players could perform well and they could make a bid for one of our players.”
Hill said he is yet to decide whether to extend the loan deals of Marcus Tudgay, Jonathan Greening, Akos Buzsaky and Emile Sinclair, who are set to return to their parent clubs after the Peterborough game on New Year’s Day.
