The summer transfer deadline is fast approaching and Barnsley need some reinforcements in order to create a promotion challenging side.
The below chart shows how many minutes each player played last season, showing how vital each player was.
The most used outfield player was Callum Styles, followed by Michal Helik and then the departed Callum Brittain.
Below shows Barnsley's current squad depth.
Barnsley should look at 3 main target areas:
Striker- It's no secret that Barnsley are in strong need of a new striker and this is the main priority.
RWB- Barnsley are left with just an injury-prone Jordan Williams and inexperienced Will Hondermarck so the reds need more depth at RWB.
CM- Barnsley have a lot of bodies in Central Midfield but might want to add an experienced leader or a goalscoring midfielder to provide a further goal threat.
Let's start with the most important, a striker.
STRIKER
Cole Stockton
Cole Stockton caught the eye in League One last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions, he won two League One Player of the Month awards and a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year.
Stockton played 50 games in all competitions last season, playing 44 of those in the League. He scored 26 goals in his 50 appearances, 23 of those in League One.
19 of his 23 League One goals were inside the box, and 4 were outside the box.
21 were scored with his right foot, 1 with his left and 1 with his head. 1 goal was from a penalty.
Morecombe recently turned down a ‘low six-figure’ for Stockton from Fleetwood.
It’s no secret that Barnsley are short of goals and Stockton will certainly add goals to this Barnsley side. Stockton will command a reasonable fee and Barnsley might not be prepared to pay that but that fee will be very much justified to sign a player of Stockton’s stature.
Saido Berahino
Saido Berahino is a 29-year-old striker who is currently a free agent. Berahino plays as a striker but could also play as an attacking midfielder. He last played for Sheffield Wednesday.
Saido usually came off the bench for Wednesday last season, playing 31 times and starting 14 of those matches. Despite uneven and infrequent playing time, he scored 8 goals last season and assisted twice. He averaged 0.65 Goals and Assist per 90 minutes played.
Berahino's former England under-21 manager Gareth Southgate said that he has an ability to create space on the pitch for his teammates and became physically and mentally stronger after working together.
Berahino made his name whilst playing for West Brom in the Premier League, he played 105 games in the Premier League for the baggies and scored 23 goals.
After an unsuccessful period playing in Belgium, Berahino was signed by Darren Moore for Sheffield Wednesday last season and left this summer.
Berahino would add undoubtable quality to this side and a goalscoring threat. He adds more experience and know-how to our young team and will arrive for free. However, he might demand high wages but Barnsley should definitely enquire about signing Berahino.
George Hirst
Barnsley will be under financial constraints following the drop in income caused by relegation and loan moves are great with strict finances. Leicester striker George Hirst is one player Barnsley could bring in on loan.
Hirst spent last season on loan at Portsmouth in League One where he scored 13 times and assisted 4 goals. He created 5 big chances and averaged 0.7 key passes per game.
George Hirst likes to dribble and play short passes in the build-up play. He's strong at ariel duels (standing at 6ft2in tall) and finishing.
Hirst was left out of Leicester’s matchday squad on 7th August, so the foxes will likely be willing to let him on loan, however, we may face competition from other League One clubs to bring Hirst in with Portsmouth one club likely to be interested.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith is a 24-year-old striker who plays for Cambridge United in League One. He stands 6ft1in tall and scored 15 goals in League One Last season. Smith's contract with Cambridge runs out next summer so Cambridge might be looking to sell him either this summer or in the January window to prevent him leaving for free.
Smith joined Cheltenham Town on loan in January 2021 for the remainder of the 2020/21 season in League Two. He played 21 games and scored 4 goals for Michael Duff's Cheltenham as they won the League Two title.
Last summer, Sam Smith joined Cambridge United on a 2-year transfer deal.
Last season, He played 46 games for Cambridge in League One where he scored a total of 15 goals and assisted on 1 occasion. He played either as a centre-forward (where he would fit into Duff's system at Barnsley) or as a right-sided attacking midfielder. Smith averaged 0.47 goals and assists per 90 minutes played. The below shows Smith's stats from last season.
Smith is strong at finishing and ariel duels. If playing out wide, he likes to cut inside and do lay-off passes to his teammates. However, he often gets caught offside.
Smith showed his goalscoring ability in League One last season and with Barnsley in desperate need of a striker, Sam Smith could be the answer.
Alfie May
The final striker Barnsley could add this summer is Alfie May. Alfie May has been linked with Barnsley ever since the arrival of Michael Duff. May worked under Duff at Cheltenham last season and scored 23 goals in League One.
The graphic below shows May's playing positions, playing habits aswell as strengths and weaknesses.
May's stats from last season in League One
Goals per shot on target
Out of the 5 strikers, Saido Berahino has the highest goal per shot on target rate.
This stat rules out unfair circumstances players might have. If one player gets more chances to shoot, they will naturally score more goals but goals scored per shot stats show the number of goals scored per shot taken thus ruling out unfair circumstances each player may have.
MIDFIELDER
Massimo Luongo
Massimo Luongo is a 29-year-old central midfielder and a free agent. He last played for Sheffield Wednesday but left this June.
He played for Australia 43 times and scored 6 goals for them.
He impressed last season in League One, providing 5 goal contributions to his side and an average of 0.9 Key Passes per game.
Luongo made 3.3 tackles per game and 0.9 interceptions per game. He had an average WhoScored rating of 7.15 (statistically created) and was named in the League One team of the week 3 times.
He has shown throughout his career that he is a top-quality player for League One level and will add quality and a goal threat to Barnsley’s midfield. The Aussie will also add experience, leadership and know-how to a young Barnsley midfield and could also improve our young midfielders such as Connell, Benson and Ackroyd. The player might demand high wages but Barnsley should at least approach Luongo.
Signing free agents such as Luongo and Berahino (as mentioned above) will add quality which is much needed in League One and will fit in with the reds financial constraints.
Danny Drinkwater
Another ex-Premier League free agent Barnsley could sign is Danny Drinkwater. Following relegation, Barnsley will have a limited budget so free agents are a handy way to provide quality without paying transfer fees and so far Barnsley have only signed free transfers.
Ex-Premier League free agents such as Drinkwater are the type of players Barnsley should attempt to sign, we might not be able to complete every deal but are certainly worth a punt. Wycombe are reportedly interested in signing Drinkwater.
These types of players will add quality, experience and leadership.
RIGHT BACK
Fin Stevens
With the Premier League starting, Premier League clubs will start to loan out their young talent that won't be used to lower league clubs, this presents a loan market to Barnsley so we can bring in talented young players on loan, meaning we don't have to pay hefty transfer fees. One player Barnsley could bring in on loan is Brentford's Fin Stevens. Stevens is a 19-year-old right back.
He made his Premier League debut for Brentford in a 4-1 defeat to Southampton in January, he got a very good match rating of 7.1
Brentford will likely be willing to loan him out following Brentford's signing of Aaron Hickey.
Stevens signed a contract until 2027 at Brentford but the bees will be willing to loan him to aid his development.
19-year-old Stevens has played 9 times for Wales U-21s
Phil Bardsley
Another free-agent Barnsley could sign is Phil Bardsley, Bardsley was released by Michael Duff's former club Burnley this summer. 36-year-old Bardsley has played 349 times during his career, 13 of which were for Scotland.
The Scottish right-back could add experience and leadership as well as add depth to the right-back position. He could add much talked-about experience to this Barnsley side and help our young players develop. Barnsley should at least look into signing Bardsley and the impact he could have on our squad.
email: thedailytykebfc@gmail.com
Great piece. I look forward to constructive comments from our board.