Barnsley boss Mark Robins could be set for his biggest transfer coup to date as he closes in on Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Andy Keogh. The 24 year old Republic of Ireland international has bagged 23 goals in 88 starts for Wolves since arriving from Scunthorpe in 2007, and played a key role in their promotion from the Championship as champions in 2009.
He failed to establish himself in the Premier League under ex Reds skipper Mick McCarthy last year however and scored just once in 15 appearances. He has had a punctured three years at Molineux, proven by the fact that as well as making 88 starts, he has also appeared as a sub 40 times.
It was at Scunthorpe where the Leeds United trainee made his name, bagging 23 goals in 80 starts and he formed a lethal partnership with Billy Sharp in the first half of 2006-2007 (a season the Iron won the League One title) before Wolves snapped him up for just under £1m.
Now though with first team football hard to come by in the Midlands, and McCarthy eyeing up more proven top-flight strikers after Wolves survival last season, Keogh could favour a move back to his native Yorkshire. Reports today suggest that Keogh has been shown around Oakwell this weekend, although the club’s general manager Don Rowing would only confirm that a number of players have been shown the clubs facilities in the last few days but nothing concrete in terms of deals are in place for them.
Rowing has however confirmed that the club will have two trialists with them when they return for pre-season training on the 1st July, with one coming from England and one from abroad and that the club are actively seeking a new left back as cover for youngster Luke Potter, who is set for a more prominent role in 2010-2011, and possibly two new strikers to offset the loss of Daniel Bogdanovic and Jon Macken.