BARNSLEY could add Kilmarnock striker Oli Shaw to their squad in the final days of the transfer window which closes on Tuesday.
So far, the Reds have signed striker Max Watters on loan from Cardiff City, centre-back Bobby Thomas on loan from Burnley and right wing-back Barry Cotter permanently from Shamrock Rovers. They are understood to have had a bid accepted for Scottish striker Shaw and are now hoping to agree personal terms but, as of yesterday, the deal was not completed.
If it is done, it could be their final piece of business this window although centre-back is thought to also be an area they are considering strengthening due to a series of injuries.
Shaw, 24, played for SPL clubs Hibernian and Ross County before dropping down to the second tier with Killie and helping them back to the top flight with 16 goals last season.
The Scotland under 21s international netted four goals in as many games in the Scottish League Cup which is played in July, but has not scored in 12 SPL games since then. Since the break for the World Cup in November and December, he has made one appearance as an 89th-minute substitute. In total he has scored 16 goals in 87 SPL games.
Speaking earlier in the week, head coach Michael Duff told the Chronicle: “We’re happy with the group we have and if nothing happens nothing happens.
“If there is anyone who is available, who we think will improve the starting 11, we will try to do it. Finances will dictate a lot of what we can do.
“We’re looking at every position.
“We always have lists for every position. If they are available, we will try to get them. If they are not, then we will just keep moving on.”
The Reds are confident of keeping all their first team players in the transfer window.
Clubs are thought to be interested in captain Mads Andersen as well as right wing-back Jordan Williams.
Duff said there had been no bids as far as he was aware.
He said: “I have said all along we won’t sell any of our players but you don’t know what bids will come in.
“I would’ve liked to have kept all the players who left at the start of the season.
“I am not expecting anything but we’re always prepared.”
The Reds currently have five loan players in Watters, Thomas, Josh Martin, Ziyad Larkeche and Slobodan Tedic.
Five is the maximum allowed in a matchday squad but some clubs have more than five and rotate them.
Duff said: “I am not a big fan of having more than five.”
Martin joined last summer on loan from Norwich City with a fee agreed for Barnsley to sign him permanently if they choose to.
He has started just two league games – the losses to Morecambe and Lincoln in October – and come off the bench in 12 others. He was an unused substitute on Saturday.
The 21-year-old has scored once in the league and twice in an EFL Trophy game at former club Doncaster Rovers.
He is a winger or ‘number ten’ but those positions are not used in Barnsley’s current 3-5-2 formation, which they reverted to in October after playing 3-4-3 when Martin signed.
Duff told the Chronicle: “I have had conversations with Josh.
“He is still learning the game, what he is and how he can get more numbers (goals and assists) in his game.
“The change in formation probably hasn’t helped him and it has affected his gametime.
“But we have finished games in a 3-4-3 and he came on and did well at Charlton (last week).
“He understands that, since we changed formation, the team has been going well.
“It’s never a case of the door being shut.
“He’s happy with the environment he’s in. Until I get told differently, he will be here with us.”
Some fringe players could leave on loan.
The non-league transfer window is open until March so some of the under 21s players could still leave on loan after the deadline.
