Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers are believed to be on the trail of 20 year old midfielder Kieran Djilali after the youngster decided not to renew his contract with Crystal Palace and becomes a free agent in the summer.
Djilali spent the second half of 2010-2011 on loan at Chesterfield and helped them gain promotion as League Two champions. Djilali who has Moroccan, Welsh and Jamaican parentage has made 28 appearances for Palace in three years and had a trial at Manchester United back in 2007. Rovers are the favourites for his signature as all Barnsley’s transfer activity has been put on hold until a new manager is found.
Meanwhile it has emerged that Rochdale manager Keith Hill did NOT even speak to the Barnsley hierarchy before opting to stay at Spotland this week. Hill had earlier told BBC Radio Sheffield ““Barnsley is a big club; historically it is a big club as well.
"I've been in discussions with the owners at Barnsley and they've been really, really good and it's been enlightening,” before declaring his intention to remain with the League One outfit. However it emerged that 41 year old Hill never even met with the Reds board, and neither Barnsley nor Hill’s agent could get in contact with him on Monday or Tuesday! Russell Slade remains the new favourite despite Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn’s insistence Slade is going nowhere.