Barnsley have potentially been dealt a major blow to their hopes of an immediate return to the Championship after Brad Potts was today sold to Preston North End.
The 24 year old had been a key component of the Reds' rise to fourth place in League One going into the new year, contributing seven goals and six assists whilst even coining a chant from supporters talking about winning the league with him on the wing.
However that is no longer possible after a surprise move to Championship North End who are 17th in the league.
Official sources state the fee is undisclosed but it is believed that Preston have broken their transfer record to secure his signature meaning it is above £1.5m.
According to media sources there have already been a number of bids for Barnsley's players with BBC Radio Sheffield reporting today that the club have rejected two bids for Mamadou Thiam from a "top 6 club in the Championship" and "a Ligue 1 side in France" with both bids rumoured to be in the region of 2m Euros.
In other transfer news striker Cauley Woodrow's loan move from Premier League Fulham has been made permanent with the opening of the window - something that will delight Reds supporters as the 24 year old has netted seven times in 14 games during his time so far at Oakwell- and Tom Bradshaw's loan from Oakwell to Millwall which was announced at the end of August has also become permanent.