Daniel Stendel is hoping Alex Mowatt’s contract negotiations can be resolved soon.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s current deal runs out at the end of the season but both he and chief executive Gauthier Ganaye have said they are keen to extend his spell at Oakwell, which looked set to end in the summer of this year after he spent last season on loan at Oxford United.
But new head coach Stendel persuaded the Reds board to keep Mowatt who has played every league game for the Reds so far this season, scoring his second long-range goal in the 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
Stendel told the Chronicle: “I hope we can keep him on a new contract. He has our trust and I hope he stays a long time at the club. I think he is satisfied with the club and the squad and, I hope, with the manager. I have a very big hope that he will stay here. He is playing games here and playing well.”
Mowatt has started 22 league games for Barnsley since moving from Leeds United in January last year, 14 of which have come this season. Stendel said: “Anyone who has watched the games knows that he is an important player for us. The performances are never bad.
“He is a player who lifts our style, he runs and wins the duels and plays with the ball very well. He’s started scoring goals as well, so I am very happy with him.”
