Exclusive: Barnsley Braced for January Battle to Keep Star Striker Davis Keillor-Dunn

Barnsley are braced for more offers for star striker Davis Keillor-Dunn in January, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Tykes turned down multiple bids from Championship clubs for the 27-year-old during the summer transfer window.

And there are a number of clubs in the second tier eagerly monitoring the South Yorkshire club’s progress this season. 

Barnsley are notoriously a selling club and a number of suitors, including Sheffield United, who have scored just one league goal this season, Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City are willing to test their resolve if the player continues his fine form. 

And our sources understand there is also interest north of the border to lure him back to Scotland, where he started his professional career with Ross County.

Sporting director Mladen Sormaz, talking about pivotal trio Keillor-Dunn, Luca Connell and Adam Phillips, said: “We were never going to let them go below what we think they are valued at.” 

“The biggest bonus since Conor (Hourihane) has come in and the way he has got them playing, the style of football and playing to all of their strengths, (means) I think a few of them are quite a bit happier to stay here.” 

“And they see that if they were to go to a bottom or mid-range Championship (team) or even other top-end League One clubs, are they going to get to play in a style of football which is attractive and plays to their strengths this much?”

One to Watch

Keillor-Dunn has been one of the standout performers in the lower leagues in recent years and is understandably attracting many admirers.

The prolific hitman signed a three-year deal at Barnsley last year after his 22 goals earned Mansfield Town promotion to League One.

And he netted 19 times in his debut season at Oakwell as he scooped the club’s Player of the Year award.

So far this term, Keillor-Dunn has bagged five goals in nine games.