With less than three weeks left in the January transfer window, Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane has raised the alarm over a squad stretched dangerously thin in wide areas and up front. Sitting 17th in League One, just two points above the relegation zone and ten off the play-off places, the Reds are facing a crucial […]
With less than three weeks left in the January transfer window, Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane has raised the alarm over a squad stretched dangerously thin in wide areas and up front. Sitting 17th in League One, just two points above the relegation zone and ten off the play-off places, the Reds are facing a crucial period where reinforcements could make the difference between survival and a relegation battle.
Hourihane has been clear about the urgency. “We need to be really aggressive with signings at the top end of the pitch,” he told the Barnsley Chronicle. “To ask Reyes to play every single minute and to have nobody on the right-hand side if Fabio was to leave is pretty alarming and concerning, so it’s something we need to address pretty quickly.”
Reyes Cleary remains Barnsley’s standout wide player, but youth prospect Fabio Jalo, who returned from a long-term injury in December, is not yet ready for League One action. Hourihane has indicated that a loan spell could be the best way to get Jalo back to full fitness.
“We have had six weeks wondering how Fabio is going to be. His injury has taken a lot out of him. I wanted to have a look at him, he’s trained with us all the time and played for the under 21s. Now I recognise he’s not ready for League One football just yet. Probably a loan somewhere is going to be key to get him somewhat back to the Fabio I saw before the end of last season,” the manager explained.
To relieve the pressure, Barnsley are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Middlesbrough’s 19-year-old winger Charlie Lennon, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at Darlington in the National League North. Lennon’s pace and versatility could inject energy and creativity into a side that has struggled to consistently threaten down the flanks.
Up front, the problem is equally acute. Davis Keillor-Dunn has carried the scoring burden with 15 goals this season, while fellow senior striker David McGoldrick, 38, has not scored in 15 league matches since August. Hourihane has confirmed that he wants to bring in a striker with pace to provide more options and support for Keillor-Dunn.
Barnsley are also focused on keeping hold of their key players. Chairman Neerav Parekh revealed that the club had rejected four bids for Cleary this month. Meanwhile, Hourihane has been moving on players who are out of favour to make room for additions he believes can make a meaningful impact in the second half of a season that will be decided in less than 100 days.
For Hourihane and Barnsley, the next 17 days could define their season. With wide areas and the attack stretched to the limit, the Reds’ transfer decisions now could be the difference between a tense relegation fight and a chance to climb the table.
