Paul Heckingbottom is all but set to join local rivals Bradford City in League Two after Barnsley agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent.
Heckingbottom has spent the first six months on the season at the Bantams and is now set to sign an 18 month contract.
Meanwhile Reds boss Simon Davey has highlighted the return of Jon Macken, Lewin Nyatanga and Anderson De Silva has his main priorities in the transfer window.
All three impressed whilst at Oakwell and Davey told www.barnsleyfc.co.uk that all other transfer activity would hinge on whether he can bring the trio back.
"We do have a list of players we want and to be fair we have had that for a while. The previous three loanees are top of that list and I want to bring all three of them back here this month.
"If that does not happen we will move onto other players on that list, not that they would be any weaker or worse than Lewin, Jon or Anderson.