Barnsley are close to finalising a new signing, according to their assistant head-coach Andreas Winkler.
The Reds sold wide-midfielder Brad Potts to Preston earlier in the month and are believed to be looking for fresh options on the flanks.
? | Andreas Winkler is addressing the media here at Oakwell.
Coverage to come on iFollow Barnsley. #NotJustAGame | #COYR pic.twitter.com/bzgdE3K5lj
— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) January 17, 2019
New signing imminent?
Assistant coach Andreas Winkler said:
“We are close to signing a new player. We (recently) lost a player in Brad Potts.
“Everyone in the club is doing their best to give us a strong side.
“We always hope this, but you never know. If we sign a new player he will need time to adapt to our squad.
“Any player we can bring in will hopefully help the squad, but what is more important is that we have a strong squad that we don’t need to sign players.”
“He was a strong character and a big personality”
Winkler has revealed that Brad Potts was a big character at the club and the dressing room was initially affected by his departure.
However, Winkler feels his squad have shown their strength, with fringe players stepping up in the wake of Potts’ absence.
He said:
“The atmosphere in the dressing room was not that good after we lost Brad Potts. He was a strong character and a big personality.
“After that, we showed we have other players like Jacob Brown who can play on the wing and as I’ve always said we have a strong squad, especially in the attacking areas.
“We’ve done many things really good (in the summer), we signed (Mike) Bahre, (Kenny) Dougall and (Jordan) Williams who have adapted to our style really quick.”
“We don’t want to change the spine of our squad”
The Reds are keen to keep the spine of their squad together, but Andreas Winkler wouldn’t rule out loan moves for fringe players.
He said:
“We don’t want to change the spine of our squad, it is really important, but we also have to make sure the squad isn’t too big so we can push the players.
“We don’t want a lot of disappointed players sitting on the sidelines on matchday, so we always have to look at both sides.
“I think the squad will stay how it is for at least the next four months. A lot of the players here have long-term contracts so we are really relaxed about the situation.”
One player who could be on his way is attacking midfielder George Moncur. The 25-year-old is believed to be close to signing for fellow promotion-chasers Luton Town on loan.
Understand #barnsleyfc midfielder George Moncur is in talks with Luton over a proposed loan move to Kenilworth Road.
— Andy Giddings (@Gids1980) January 17, 2019