Barnsley are hoping to add the 'finishing touches' to their squad in the final week of the transfer window while keeping hold of their star players who are still attracting bids almost every day.
Head coach Daniel Stendel has so far recruited only Kenny Dougall in the window which closes on Thursday, with loans allowed until August 31.The Reds' search for a winger has been intensified by the injury picked up by Ryan Hedges on Saturday which is likely to keep him out for several weeks. They are still hoping to bring in Portsmouth's Conor Chaplin, who can play wide or up front, although there are other clubs interested and Pompey are adamant they will not sell him unless they can bring in a replacement.
Chief executive Gauthier Ganaye told the Chronicle: "We may do some bits and bobs before the end of the window but, if it closed tomorrow, Daniel would be happy with this squad. We are still working on a few profiles and we will make the transfers if Daniel feels we need to strengthen an area. We might make more signings but maybe not.
"Daniel takes his time to make his decision but, when he does, he is very clear in what he wants which is perfect for us. This year is a bit special with the window closing earlier and lots of deals will happen for all the clubs in the last one or two days. Then we have the loan window which we used last year to plug the gaps but this time we might not even need it or we might just sign one loan player.
"We are in the position we should always be in with one week left in a window – we are thinking: we have a good squad, but is there a way we can make it even better? It is like decorating a house, we have done all the main painting of the walls but now we might add the little finishing touches which could be very important."
At his first press conference yesterday, Stendel added: "We will see if we add any other players. It might be a surprise. In England, more than in Germany, a lot of things can happen in the last days of the transfer window. We don't have to sell players or sign players but, as long as the window is open, anything could happen."
Asked if he would sign German players, he said: "If the opportunity was there I wouldn't say no. But I am satisfied with the quality of our squad."The Reds have rejected bids throughout the summer for strikers Tom Bradshaw and Kieffer Moore as well as midfielder Brad Potts and others, with offers still coming in this week.
Ganaye told the Chronicle: "If someone leaves, it will be in the club's best interests and because we have someone better. Bradshaw and Moore will be very hard to replace so we want to keep them. We have identified profiles for replacements in case we need them but they are the best pair of strikers in the league. We want to keep them and we want them to be really prolific in this division.
"We are in a strong position with the signings we have made in the past, on longer deals and with relegation clauses. Thanks to the owners and their support, we have been able to keep our best players and we are not in a financial position where we need to sell. We have been turning down lots of offers all summer and into this week, not just for Bradshaw and Moore but quite a few other players.
"I am not saying we have had bids for everybody, but nearly everybody. A lot of them have been bids from Championship clubs and I think it's a very good sign if clubs in the league above you want to sign your players."
