Blackburn Rovers reportedly desperate to keep Connor Mahoney – but he’d thrive at Barnsley

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Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers can’t afford to lose their exciting talent but Barnsley will put up a fight.

Blackburn Rovers remain determined to tie down 20-year-old winger Connor Mahoney, the Lancashire Telegraph reports, with Barnsley supposedly hoping to take advantage of his contract situation at Ewood Park.

The 20-year-old has been a rare bright spark in an otherwise dismal season for Owen Coyle’s side so his potential departure hardly bares thinking about with Blackburn fans already furious about the club’s dramatic fall from grace under the controversial Venky’s regime.

Mahoney, who became the club’s third youngest ever debutant at the age of 16 after signing from Accrington Stanley, will be a free agent in the summer as it stands, meaning Rovers stand to lose their most exciting prospect for nothing other than a tribunal fee.

However, Director of Football Operations Paul Senior insists that the club will do everything they can to ensure Mahoney remains a major part of the club’s present and future.

“Initial talks have taken place and dialogue is ongoing,” Senior told the Lancashire Telegraph. “We believe he has a bright future and he is very much in our plans going forward.

“We remain committed to keeping him at the club for the long-term.”

The wideman impressed off the bench in Sunday’s narrow 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United and has remained non-committal on his summer plans thus far, maintaining that his only focus is on helping Blackburn retain their league status.

However, The Sun reported earlier in the summer that Barnsley, a club admired for their ability to turn a healthy profit on astute, young signings, are watching Mahoney’s contract situation intently with the aim of making a move in the summer.

The likes of Sam Winnall (below), Conor Hourihane, Alfie Mawson, John Stones and Mason Holgate all earned big moves after honing their craft at Oakwell so Mahoney could be forgiven for giving the switch serious thought.