What do Barnsley need in the January transfer window?

By Harry Jones
December 22 2025

As the January transfer window approaches, Barnsley will be looking to make some additions to bolster a thin squad ahead of a packed post-festive fixture schedule.

 

The Reds may also look to offload some members of the squad that perhaps aren't as important to Conor Hourihane's plans.

 

Hourihane is expected to take on more of the recruitment responsibilities after sporting director Mladen Sormaz departed the club in late September.

 

Barnsley currently sit 10th in League One, six points outside the play-off places but with atleast two games in hand on the sides above them.

 

Hourihane has expressed the need for atleast two attackers and possibly a defensive addition aswell, whilst also saying he is happy with his midfield options.

 

One of the flaws of the Barnsley's summer recruitment was the failure to bring in another striker, with a late move for John McAtee from Bolton falling through leaving the Reds with just Davis Keillor-Dunn and David McGoldrick as so-called out-and-out strikers.

 

Another striker addition could prove fruitful, as it would take the load off Davis Keillor-Dunn and give the Reds another option alongside the experienced David McGoldrick.

 

However, it would have to be a striker who knows they won't be leading the Barnsley front line week in, week out which may lead to a younger striker being brought in from a potential Premier League or Championship club on loan, who would get good minutes but also not have the pressure of being the Reds main source of goals.

 

The Reds may also look to bring in another winger with the current options being Reyes Cleary, Caylan Vickers, Neil Farrugia and Fabio Jalo whilst Hourihane has also deployed Vimal Yoganathan on the wing at points this campaign. 

 

It seems that a new defender would also be high on Hourihane's radar as Barnsley cannot seem to keep clean sheets and are capable of self-destructing at the back at any moment.

 

The Reds only have one right-back in Tennai Watson, after going into the summer with an abundance of right wing-backs as Hourihane looked to switch to a back four, and although Mael de Gevigney and Jonathan Bland can play there, another right-back might help the Reds with squad depth.

 

Another centre-back could also help Barnsley's defensive issues, however it is unsure if the Reds could add a quality centre back in January which is a notoriously tricky window to bring players in, which is what Barnsley discovered a year ago with their lacklustre additions which didn't help Darrell Clarke one bit.

 

In terms of outgoings, loanees Caylan Vickers and Jake Rooney may return to their parent clubs with Caylan Vickers having lost his place in the starting line-up in recent weeks, whilst Jake Rooney doesn't quite look ready for consistent League One football and may benefit from a loan to team in League Two.

 

Jon Russell is in the last year of his Barnsley contract and becomes a free agent in the summer, so The Reds could cash in if a suitable offer is recieved, whilst the Jamaican international may also want more consistent minutes than what he is currently getting.

 

It also important that Barnsley keep hold of star players including Davis Keillor-Dunn, Luca Connell and Adam Phillips who are consistent high-level performers at League One level.

 

Youngsters Reyes Cleary, Patrick Kelly, Jonathan Bland and Vimal Yoganathan will also most likely attract interest, but they are all under long contracts so The Reds won't have to accept anything that doesn't match the valuations put on them.

 

A good January could be the boost that Barnsley need to turn a consistently inconsistent campaign into a successful one, whilst another window where the Reds just seem to miss out on everything they need could prove costly.