Barnsley track Leeds United midfielder Alex Mowatt as replacement for Conor Hourihane
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
The South Yorkshire club have targeted Mowatt as part of a wider rebuilding process following a spate of departures from Oakwell.
Barnsley lost striker Sam Winnall to Sheffield Wednesday in the first fortnight of the January transfer window and midfielder Conor Hourihane and defender James Bree have both joined Aston Villa since Leeds’ 3-2 defeat at Oakwell last Saturday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdUnited head coach Garry Monk said at the start of this month that no members of his senior squad would leave before the window closed and Mowatt has played 20 times this season, despite occupying a relatively peripheral role.
Mowatt, however, has little over six months left on his contract and discussions with the club have so far failed to lead to an extension of that deal.
The 22-year-old - Leeds’ player of the year in 2014-15 - would be available on a free transfer in July if United fail to offer him a new contract which matches his current salary.
Sources close to Mowatt have told the YEP that Barnsley are considering delaying their move until the summer with a view to tying him to a three-year deal then but the club’s boss, Paul Heckingbottom, needs immediate recruits in the wake of the recent exodus of players.