Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie has admitted he is in talks with Manchester United about one of their young stars but it is NOT young defender Ryan Shawcross.
The Daily Mirror reported that Ritchie was trying to get Shawcross in on loan but he told
www.barnsleyfc.co.uk:"I do not know where the Shawcross thing has come from at all and he is not the Manchester United player we have been in for. Unfortunately it does not look as though we will be able to get the one we want from Old Trafford.
"Shawcross has never even been mentioned in any conversation I have had with Manchester United.
"We have been in for another Manchester United player but it does not look as though that will happen although we will keep talking.
"We are still trying to do something before Saturday but we are having some problems at the moment because a lot of clubs do not want to let players come out on loan as they are looking to sell them in the January window.
"We are looking at all areas and are discussing deals for defenders and strikers. We will have to wait and see".
Meanwhile more than 6,000 of the Red Army are set to converge on Hillsborough for the massive South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Both teams are desperate for three points to kick-start their seasons and the Oakwell Box Office has confirmed that all Upper Tier tickets for the Leppings Lane End has been sold out whilst more than 1200 of the Lower Tier tickets have also gone.
There are now VERY limited tickets remaining and fans are urged to get to Oakwell now for their tickets.
The match is all-ticket so NO tickets will be available on the day.
Finally Goal-keeper Nick Colgan could be in line-up for a start for the Republic of Ireland this evening.
Ireland who were hammered 5-2 by Cyprus on Saturday have a massive player crisis including in the goal-keeping position. First Choices Shay Given and Paddy Kenny have been ruled out which leaves Colgan and Brighton's Wayne Henderson fighting for the right to start.
Reports suggest that Henderson, whose Brighton team sit 20th in League One will get the nod after being the back-up keeper on Saturday but Colgan, whose last appearance for Ireland was in the 0-0 draw in Poland on the 28th April 2004 and last start was in the 2-2 home draw with Turkey on the 9th September 2003 will be hoping his higher league position will boost his cause.