BARNSLEY will be patient and ‘won’t panic’ in their search for new signings, as Michael Duff insists Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers has not changed the need to bring in more attacking players.
There are 13 days remaining until the transfer window shuts on September 1.
The Reds have made seven summer signings, but the only one in the last month was Slobodan Tedic who is a ‘development loan’ and has not played for the first team yet as he works on his fitness with the under 23s.
No new signings are expected until next week at the earliest, with much of the business likely to be done in the final days of the window.
Barnsley – who host Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow then visit Leeds United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday – have so far collected six points from their four games, this week losing at Derby County on Saturday before the impressive midweek victory.
Head coach Duff told the Chronicle: “We won’t panic. I can sign loads of players, that’s not a problem. We’re waiting to sign the right ones.
“We’re waiting for other clubs or players to make decisions and sometimes you need a deal to go through somewhere else and the knock-on effect helps us.
“We’re working on deals but they are not quite there yet so we have to be patient.”
Barnsley are looking for at least one more striker. After selling top-scorers Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow to Luton, they are currently using a combination of Devante Cole – who became the first striker to score this season on Tuesday – James Norwood, Jack Aitchison and Aiden Marsh.
The Reds are also understood to be also looking for a new right wing-back.
After the sale of Callum Brittain to Blackburn Rovers, Jordan Williams has been playing at right wing-back.
Williams is also seen as a good option on the right of the back three so a new right wing-back may allow him to play there. Kayne Ramsay, who was at Oakwell for talks and a medical last month, has now left Southampton for League Two Harrogate Town.
The future of Michal Helik and Callum Styles is unclear, as both have been expected to be sold all summer but they remain at the club with no deals thought to be imminent. Duff said yesterday there were no new bids.
He has said the Reds have rejected bids earlier in the summer as they appear to be holding out for their valuation.
Helik is out with injury while Styles has started every league game.
Mads Andersen is also thought to have been of interest to other clubs previously and has made a fine start to the season.
Barnsley’s resolve may be tested if approaches are made towards the end of the window, as they are trying to offset the roughly £8million shortfall from relegation by selling players.
There have been question marks over the Reds’ experience, with 31-year-old Norwood the oldest by five years.
Duff said: “It’s still a young team.
“We were the youngest team in League One comfortably on Tuesday night.
“But there is experience within that. You can look at how many games Callum Styles or Brad Collins have played for their age.
“It’s just having a different type of experience. We won’t be bring in two or three 30-year-olds. If there is an experienced one who ticks all the right boxes – character, wage, age, position, injury record – we will take him.”
Central midfield is the youngest area of the team, with no player older than 23, but Duff says he is not actively looking for someone else to play as one of the two deeper midfielders behind a ‘number ten’ and two strikers. Herbie Kane is due back from injury within weeks while there is also Josh Benson, Luca Connell, Styles and Matty Wolfe.
“I don’t think there is any need for more players there. There are probably areas that are more pressing. If one comes up, we will look at it.”
The Reds have been considering bringing in an attacking midfielder to play behind the strikers. Duff is known to be an admirer of Leicester City’s Callum Wright whom he had on loan twice at former club Cheltenham.
Benson has netted three times from midfield and Luke Thomas once.
Asked if that might calm down the search for a new attacking midfielder, Duff told the Chronicle: “No.
“You never turn down goals. If we have an opportunity to get one in, we will get one. It is pleasing that we have scored from midfield but we’re always looking for good players.”
Barnsley are expected to try to move on, either by sales or loans, any players not getting regular football under Duff.
Striker Aaron Leya Iseka, 23, has not been in a league matchday squad under Duff. The Belgian looks likely to leave if the Reds can find a club to take him.
Striker David Bremang, 22, has joined League Two Crawley Town, having played twice for the Reds.
