Barnsley are in talks with League One rivals Portsmouth over a move for striker Conor Chaplin, as they look to become the last club in the division to make a first team signing this summer.
The Reds have made an approach for the 21-year-old, who scored five goals in 32 appearances last season, and are in negotiations to agree a fee. Chaplin, who came through the Portsmouth academy, has scored 25 goals for the south coast club in 36 starts and 85 substitute appearances. Pompey have already rejected approaches from clubs such as Coventry City. He is the only player the Reds are currently close to recruiting.
It has now been 67 days since the transfer window opened on May 7 and Barnsley are the only club in League One not to have made a signing for their first team squad. There are 27 days until the deadline to make permanent signings on August 9 – five days after the Reds begin their campaign at home to Oxford United – while the loan window remains open until the end of next month.
The Chronicle understands that the Barnsley board are confident that the majority of the current squad left over from last season's relegation out of the Championship will be good enough to form the basis of a League One promotion challenge, although they would have to bring in replacements should star players be sold.
They are allowing time for new head coach Daniel Stendel – who has now been working with the players for three weeks – to assess the squad before potentially bringing in several new signings, some of whom are likely to be players he knows from his time in Germany.
Chaplin could bolster a forward line which currently includes in-demand duo Kieffer Moore and Tom Bradshaw. It was widely reported yesterday that 25-year-old Wales international Bradshaw was set to hand in the request after several bids from Championship club Millwall were rejected. But sources at Oakwell told the Chronicle yesterday that no transfer request had been submitted and that, unless a better offer is accepted, the player is expected to play at Salford City tomorrow and then travel with the squad to Hungary on Sunday.
The London club – who Bradshaw netted twice against in a 3-1 away win in September – are thought to be the forerunners for his signature but are yet to meet the Oakwell club's valuation for last season's top-scorer. Other Championship clubs, including Barnsley's near neighbours Rotherham United, have also had offers turned down.It is understood that Bradshaw is keen to return to the second tier in which he scored 17 goals in 81 Reds games.
Bradshaw and Moore have a good record in League One and promotion-chasing Barnsley are aware that it would be very difficult to replace them so are not willing to sell unless for an 'exceptional' fee. Senior figures at the club have been pleased with the players' commitment in training and the pre-season friendlies at Gainsborough Trinity and York City this week, with Bradshaw scoring three goals and Moore one.
Moore has also been the subject of bids, including from Preston North End, with the offers now being more than £1million but still shy of what the Reds want for him.The club believe it would be difficult to find anyone like the six foot five striker who excelled in League One last season during a 13-goal loan spell with Rotherham United.They are therefore holding out for more than double the £750,000 they paid in January for the 25-year-old, who has three years left on his contract.
As well as Moore and Bradshaw, there is understood to have been a substantial bid rejected this summer for midfielder Brad Potts while interest remains in centre-back Liam Lindsay who played more games than any other player in the Reds' relegation season.
