Exclusive: Scott Banks to Join Barnsley on Loan as Oakwell Move Looms

Barnsley are on the verge of signing Scott Banks on loan until the end of the season, SportsBoom can reveal.

Our sources understand the 24-year-old’s loan at fellow League One club Blackpool will be cut short today as he briefly returns to St Pauli before being shipped out to the Tykes until the end of the season. 

Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane has been open about his desire to bring in the playmaker, who has struggled for game time on the coast. 

And our sources understand the south Yorkshire club are eying a permanent move in the summer if they can convince the German club to lower their asking price. 

It is understood there were a number of other potential suitors willing to offer Banks regular game time, but our sources have been told Barnsley have beaten them off to secure their man and are expected to announce the signing imminently. 

Banks could prove to be a timely replacement for Reyes Clearly, who has been linked with a move up to the Championship, offering Barnsley creativity and attacking threat in the final third.

Change of Scenery 

Banks, who helped St Pauli get promoted to the Bundesliga two seasons ago, has made 20 appearances for Ian Evatt’s Seasiders this term, but only two of them have been league starts.

Four of his five goals this term have come in cup competitions, although he did bag a memorable late winner at Peterborough United earlier in the campaign.

Evatt’s system sadly did not suit Banks, who will head to Oakwell for a fresh start.

Banks was signed by Crystal Palace as a 19-year-old, which highlights his early promise as a youngster. 

Speaking about the player at the weekend, Hourihane said: “Scott's obviously a really good player, and he's not had the minutes that he would like at Blackpool.”

“Maybe there's potential in that one. I'm not saying that it's a definite and we're going to get it done, but I really like the player for sure. And if he's one that we could add over the next few days, that would be a positive.”

“It’s not one that will be very very close but we would like to add bodies of that quality. He’s someone that can come in and make an impact instantly rather than a Charlie Lennon signing who has real development in him and will take that little bit of time.”