Exclusive: Barnsley Face Late Transfer Fight to Keep Cleary and Keillor-Dunn

Barnsley are braced for a battle to keep their biggest stars as the transfer window heads into the final throws, SportsBoom can reveal. 

There is huge Championship interest in both Reyes Cleary and Davis Keillor-Dunn, with Tykes’ bosses desperate to hold on to their main assets until the summer.

Sources in south Yorkshire say the club are determined to keep the duo, but like any club at the level will be forced to sell if the price is right, as has been the case over the years at the Tykes.

Our sources understand there are four second-tier clubs fighting it out for wing wizard Cleary. 

It is understood Blackburn Rovers have been priced out of a move for the attacker. 

But Sheffield United have emerged as contenders for the talented 21-year-old’s signature in recent days. 

When asked about the player Blades’ boss Chris Wilder admitted the club had “looked at him internally” and they would "not be doing their job" had they not identified him as a player worth monitoring. 

Hitman Keillor-Dunn is also attracting interest from numerous clubs in the second tier. 

The former Mansfield man, who scored 19 times last season, has netted 14 goals so far this term, but has not scored since bagging against his former club on Boxing Day. 

Wrexham are leading the race for the 28-year-old, who is contracted at Oakwell until the summer of 2027. Preston have also been heavily linked. 

Pillaged Again

Last week, boss Conor Hourihane said the club had not received bids for their biggest names, but our sources understand that has changed in recent days as interest intensifies.

When asked about his future, Keillor-Dunn said: “It’s one of those things. It’s always going to happen around January.”

“But as a player you keep your head and do the job asked of you. Whenever I am asked to play for this club I will give 110 per cent, simple as that.”