Reds still want 4 more

Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom still wants four new signings and would ideally like them in before the opening league game at Bristol City.

Heckingbottom’s squad has been boosted this week with the season-long loan signings of Everton midfielder Joe Williams, 20, yesterday and Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo, 18, on Monday.

He still feels that four more are needed and he would ideally have them all in place for the trip to Bristol City.

He told the Chronicle: “To be fair on us and the player and to give us the best chance of getting points I would rather have been working with the players for three weeks but it has not happened.

“We are not the only club in that position but the clubs who have done their business early will be the ones who start the season better. It’s just common sense.
“We have got to integrate players and get them to understand how we want them to play.

“It was the same last season. There was only one player who started who was new (Tom Bradshaw) and that was because he had to.

“That was why I wanted the players in early doors because you are giving the new signings the best possible chance of starting the season.

”Heckingbottom said following the game at Grimsby on Saturday that the club had identified six players they wanted to sign and Williams and Ugbo were among that number.

Another striker is the major priority with Ugbo, Tom Bradshaw and Stefan Payne the only recognised strikers at Oakwell. Cover also appears to be required in the full-back slots and winger positions.

Long-term striker target Oliver McBurnie is still needed at Swansea City and scored in their 2-1 pre-season win over Richmond Kickers in the USA on Wednesday.

A deal for the striker could be revisited once Swansea have secured a striker replacement for the injured Fernando Llorente.

Heckingbottom added: “We identified six players and have got two of them in now. There are four more to go.

“We have to do it (bring in a striker) everybody knows that we have to do it.”


Barnsley Chronicle