Barnsley are not planning to re-sign all five of their loan players and may only retain one or two if any.
Italian under 21 international Marcello Trotta has had to return to his native country due to a 'family emergency'. The 22-year-old striker – who has scored once in six games for Barnsley – may not play again for the Reds before his loan ends on January 5 and is expected to seek a permanent move back to Italy from parent club Fulham.
While both manager Danny Wilson and chief executive Ben Mansford had previously stated they wanted to retain Trotta and the other four loanees until the end of the season, that no longer looks likely.
Trotta's Fulham team-mate Ryan Williams is highly thought of at Oakwell but has just had a hernia operation so is expected to be out for several months. The Chronicle understands that Hull City man Joe Dudgeon's persistent knee problems and inability to play two games in a week may force the Reds to look for a different left-back.
Peter Ramage has previously said he would like to extend his deal until the end of the season or even sign permanently if, as expected, he is not needed by Premier League Crystal Palace. Wilson has continually stressed his desire to keep Ramage and did the same with Devante Cole on Saturday after the Manchester City teenager scored his seventh goal of the season against Orient.
The Reds boss said of the loan players: "The parent clubs may not want to let them out to us again and we might want to look at someone else. I'm not confident we'll keep all of them."
Wilson is more determined to retain his young, under-contract stars such as Conor Hourihane who has attracted attention with 11 goals from midfield. The manager admits other clubs might be looking at the Irishman and other players but he does not want to sell.
Wilson said: "I am sure there will be interest but no-one will be going anywhere if we can help it. Someone might blow our socks off with an offer we can't turn down and then a player would leave. But I can't envisage that."
As for permanent signings coming in, Wilson is hoping to be active in the first week of January. He has already admitted interest in Port Vale's big striker Tom Pope as well as teenage Carlisle winger Kyle Dempsey but he expects stiff competition to sign both of them.
The manager is targeting all positions but admits he wants more cover in central and left defence and midfield, as well as a 'targetman' striker and more wingers. Wilson said: "We would like to do our business early if we can. We don't want to wait until the end of the month and miss out on our top targets. One or two of the signings may not be for now, they may be for the future."
Left-back George Smith, 18 has been recalled from his loan to Bradford Park Avenue in the Conference North.
