Hearts winger Sam Nicholson could replace Marley Watkins at Barnsley although Minnesota United will undoubtedly appeal.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom
With Barnsley seemingly set for another transfer window beset by the loss of several key men, manager Paul Heckingbottom has a challenge on his hands ensuring the Tykes are capable of competing next season.
Barnsley survived the losses of Alfie Mawson, James Bree, top scorer Sam Winnall and captain Conor Hourihane to finish an impressive 14th in their first season back in the Championship in 2016/17.
However, combative midfielder Josh Scowen and key creator Marley Watkins (below) are the latest to bid farewell to Oakwell with their contracts expiring. Therefore, Barnsley must act quickly as one of their top summer targets threatens to slip through their radar.
The Daily Record report that Heckingbottom is interested in Hearts’ out-of-contract attacker Sam Nicholson despite injuries restricting him to just 13 Scottish Premiership starts in the season just gone.
An excellent runner with the ball blessed with an eye for goal, Nicholson has the potential and the skill-set to be an astute replacement for Watkins at the Yorkshire club.
And he certainly fits Barnsley’s approach of signing young, affordable talents before developing them and selling them on for a tidy profit.
Uncle Sam
However, the Daily Record adds that the Tykes may be set for disappointment with the newly-formed Minnesota United inviting the winger, who was heavily linked with Rangers last summer, to look around their shiny new facilities, including the 50,000-seater stadium.
The report claims that Barnsley would be forced to pay Hearts £350,000 compensation if they nabbed the 22-year-old this summer – but the MLS club would be exempt from paying any fee.
Therefore, it certainly suits Hearts and Barnsley for Nicholson to put pen to paper in Yorkshire. However, any deal is out of their hands.
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