Barnsley are lining up a summer move for Swindon Town’s Jack Payne, with the Tykes set to pay £300,000 for the midfielder.
The Sun on Sunday (11.04.21, pg. 67) reports that Payne is being lined up for a summer move to Championship high-flyers Barnsley.
The 26-year-old former Huddersfield Town man is priced at just £300,000 despite having a strong showing in League One for Swindon this season.
He’s netted four goals in 37 league outings for the League One strugglers, but he and a number of his teammates could be stepping up into the Championship next season – Scott Twine is linked with a host of Championship clubs as well.
Barnsley remain very much in contention to step up into the Premier League next season. They sit in 5th-place of the table after their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough yesterday, but it’s not known whether promotion would effect their proposed deal for Payne.
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Valerien Ismael’s side have become notoriously good at recruiting and developing young players. The likes of Callum Brittain and Callum Styles have prevailed this season, with the 20-year-old Daryl Dike flourishing on loan from Orlando.
Missing out on promotion this season could really damage Barnsley though – we saw it with Brentford last summer, where they came so close to reaching the Premier League and missing out saw their best players depart.
It might not be so dramatic for Barnsley but Ismael will be concerned about one or two of his star players attracting too much unwanted interest in the summer.
Up next for the Tykes is trip to Coventry City this weekend.
