BARNSLEY remain confident of keeping Michael Duff and the vast majority of their squad which reached the play-off final last month.
It has now been 12 days since the Reds lost the League One final at Wembley to Sheffield Wednesday, who scored in the 123rd minute.
The first team players are due back at Oakwell for pre-season training in just over a fortnight on June 26, with the new season underway on August 5.
The club is in the traditional post-season lull, with most players and many members of staff on holiday, but there are some negotiations ongoing over potential signings and plans in place in case of any departures.
The transfer window is due to open on Wednesday – although deals can be put in place before then – and close on September 1.
The Reds have already brought in Polish centre-back Kacper Lopata who was a free agent.
Head coach Duff impressed in his first season after moving from Cheltenham Town, breaking a club record with 32 wins in all competitions and taking them to fourth with 86 points.
He has two years remaining on his contract and the Chronicle understands there have been no approaches from other clubs for his services, while he has been helping to plan for pre-season and involved in recruitment discussions.
There are also not thought to have been any official bids for Barnsley players as of yet. Some sales are expected this summer with head coach Duff saying after the Wembley loss that he expected to ‘lose a couple’.
Mads Andersen and Jordan Williams have one year remaining on their current deals, and were almost ever-presents last season.
There have been bids for captain Andersen in previous windows.
The Reds’ model is to generally make money on players so they may be sold if a club meets their valuation.
The likes of midfielders Luca Connell and Adam Phillips as well as defender Liam Kitching are likely to have attracted interest after good individual seasons.
But they are all contracted for at least two years so the Reds are expected to hold out for significant sums.
Barnsley have been linked with a move for Luton’s Admiral Muskwe but the Chronicle understands that is untrue.
Goalkeeper Harry Isted, who impressed on loan from Luton Town after signing in January, has been released by the Premier League Hatters.
The Reds are thought to be keen to sign him permanently and Isted told the Chronicle before the play-off final that he would be happy to stay. Discussions are understood to be ongoing.
Barnsley also have Brad Collins who has a year remaining on his contract.
The Reds are thought to be unlikely to re-sign centre-back Bobby Thomas who impressed on loan from Burnley.
There was a fee agreed if Barnsley had achieved promotion.
The Reds are still trying to bring him back but he is thought to have Championship interest.
In terms of players who were loaned out last season, defender Jasper Moon is currently expected to begin pre-season with the Reds this month, and compete for a place in the team next season, but the future of Callum Styles and Aaron Leya Iseka is more uncertain.
Styles – who spent last season on loan to Millwall – is contracted until 2025 but there is a buy clause within that deal which is yet to be triggered by any club.
The 23-year-old is currently on international duty with Hungary.
Belgian striker Iseka is thought to be of interest to other clubs, after a strong end to last season with Turkish second tier side Tuzlaspor.
But no deal has yet been agreed for the 24-year-old who still has two years remaining on his Reds contract.
Barnsley are understood to be hopeful of keeping the majority, if not all, of the out-of-contract players to whom they have offered new deals.
The Reds have put new contracts to Luke Thomas, Aiden Marsh and Joe Ackroyd whose deals are due to expire at the end of this month.
Midfielder Thomas, 24, has been at Oakwell for four years – although loaned out twice to Ipswich and Bristol Rovers – while playing 95 games with four goals. Most of his appearances have been off the bench, starting just twice after breaking his leg in October.
Striker Marsh and midfielder Ackroyd are both 20-year-olds from Barnsley who came through the academy. Both were loaned out to non-league clubs last season but have appeared for the first team.
Charlie Winfield, the 21-year-old left-back from Wombwell, and 19-year-old goalkeeper Kieren Flavell have also been offered new contracts.
Both have been at the club for more than a decade and are so far yet to make their first team debuts, having each recovered from long-term injuries.
All but two of the second year scholars from the double-winning under 18s side have signed deals.
