George Moncur believes keeping star strikers Tom Bradshaw and Kieffer Moore at Oakwell this summer could be crucial as he hopes for a quiet window followed by a promotion challenge.
The Reds have rejected bids for both Bradshaw and Moore who are attracting the interest of several Championship clubs after Barnsley were relegated into League One in May. Midfielder Moncur told the Chronicle: "They are two very good strikers and it would be massive if we could keep them both. Tom is one of my really close friends at Barnsley and I keep telling him that he should stay here. He's a quality player and he's shown he can score goals in League One and the Championship.
"Kieffer would cause absolute carnage for defences in League One and he's shown he can score goals at that level. They have both come back for pre-season looking really good and hopefully they will stay. But you can never predict what will happen in football."
Barnsley are yet to make a signing during the summer window, while the only players they have so far sold are fringe players. Moncur, 24, believes that is a good thing and suggested that 17 players coming both out and in last summer played a part in the relegation. He said: "I think sometimes not making many changes can work in your favour."If you stick with a team and a squad which knows each other then they are happy and it really helps.
"Last summer we had a lot of changes and, even though they were good players who came in, it is hard when you are a new squad and you have to gel so quickly."I know from my experience of being a new player at Barnsley that it does take a while to get into the rhythm of the club.
"It doesn't look like there will be as many signings this summer but it's up to the players who have been here longer, like myself, to welcome any new players in and make them feel at home."
One new arrival has been German head coach Daniel Stendel who has now been working with the players for two weeks. Moncur said: "He has been great. "You can tell he's starting to improve us as individuals and a team already."He focuses on the areas that you are not strong in and challenges you to work on them. He's working with me on what I do off the ball which has always been one of my weaker areas but I can already see it getter better. Pre-season is going really well.
"It's been tough with the heat and he's demanding a lot from us but that's what we want and we enjoy it. Everyone is looking forward to the friendlies starting and then the first games of the new season."
As well as preparing for the League One campaign, Moncur has been keenly watching the World Cup in which England have been captained by his friend Harry Kane.Moncur and Kane – who is currently the top-scorer in Russia with six goals – were in the same youth teams for Tottenham Hotspur and England.
Barnsley's number ten said: "Harry's a great lad and he deserves all the success he gets. I have known him since I was about nine and we kept in touch. We used to play golf together when I was at Colchester and he was at Spurs but, now I am up north, we don't see each other as much. I still speak to him now and then.
"I am wishing him all the best and the rest of the team as well. As an England fan it has been great to watch them so far and hopefully they can keep winning."Moncur has scored four goals in 51 Reds games since arriving in 2016.
