Barnsley's move for French winger Harrison Manzala fell through last night.
The 23-year-old – who has been a regular with French top flight side Amiens this season – was at Oakwell yesterday for a medical and personal negotiations after a deal was agreed with his club. Head coach Paul Heckingbottom confirmed they were trying to sign the pacy wideman. But Manzala posted on Twitter yesterday evening that the move had fallen through and that was confirmed to the Chronicle by club officials. Manzala wrote: "After full analysis of the situation, I took the decision not to hire me for this club."
Barnsley are also interested in Bournemouth winger Connor Mahoney, who joined from Blackburn Rovers in the summer but has not played a Premier League game. Heckingbottom said of Mahoney: "We could possibly bring him in on loan. He's someone I tried to bring in last January, but he's one of a number of players we are looking at."
The Reds are still hoping to bring back winger Harvey Barnes who impressed on loan in the first half of the season before being recalled by parent club Leicester City.
With the window set to close on Wednesday evening, the Reds have so far recruited striker Kieffer Moore from Ipswich Town and left-back Daniel Pinillos from Spanish second tier club Cordoba. Heckingbottom said: "It will probably be busy all the way up until Wednesday. I hope it's not, because I would rather get things done earlier and then chill out on Wednesday. A lot of the Premier League players who we might be trying to get on loan might be playing in the FA Cup this weekend, so that is another consideration."
Barnsley have had a bid rejected for Oxford United goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, estimated to be around £350,000, and could submit another.The signing of the 28-year-old – who began his career at Huddersfield Town – would probably trigger a move out of the club for current back-up Nick Townsend. Heckingbottom said: "We put in a bid and it was rejected. Until Oxford agree to sell him then there is nothing we can do about it. I would like to go back in for him."
The Reds have also been linked with striker Kristian Dennis, 27, who has netted 15 goals for League Two strugglers Chesterfield this season. Heckingbottom would not comment when asked if Dennis was a Reds target. Barnsley are monitoring striker Oliver McBurnie, whose season-long Oakwell loan was completed too late in August.
They are also looking for players to provide the central midfield cover lacking at Aston Villa on Saturday when Joe Williams and Gary Gardner were both unavailable.
As for players leaving the club, Barnsley centre-back Liam Lindsay – who has been one of their best performers this season – has been linked with £6million move to Premier League Brighton. Heckingbottom dismissed that and added that there had been no bids for any of his players. He said: "I would be delighted if we could get to the end of the window without anybody leaving the club."
Asked if he thought full-back Andy Yiadom – who almost moved away in the summer and is still being monitored by Swansea City among others – would stay, he said: "I don't have a clue. People have to bid for our players first. At the moment it's all speculation."
Heckingbottom admitted the arrival of Pinillos meant he could move on one or two of his six senior full-backs. The others are Zeki Fryers, Matty Pearson, Yiadom, Jason McCarthy and Dimitri Cavare.
