Barnsley boss Mark Robins may have missed out on a couple of transfer targets this week, but he is once again scouting Europe tonight, looking at one unnamed player in particular.
Robins was hoping to snare striker Jamie Mackie on a free transfer from relegated Plymouth Argyle but the 24 year old who netted at Oakwell for the Pilgrims in February and also claimed a brace when the two sides met at Home Park in February 2008 opted to join Neil Warnock’s Queens Park Rangers with Robins admitting he has been “blown out of the water” by other clubs this week.
There may be also a couple of players moving through the exit door in the next week or so as well. Daniel Bogdanovic is odds on to move across to rivals Sheffield United, whilst Jamaican international O’Neil Thompson is set to join Simon Davey’s Darlington. Thompson was signed by Davey for Barnsley back in September but failed to appear under the Welshman and indeed did not make his debut until Robins first game in charge when he started the 1-0 defeat at Watford but was subbed with less than half an hour played. The 26 year old featured just once more, as a half time substitute in the 3-2 Carling Cup victory over Burnley and spent time on loan at Burton Albion in the second half of the season. Player of the Year Hugo Colace could also be moving on. Like Bogdanovic, Colace is stalling over agreeing a new contract with his agent claiming he needs more time. In response to this Robins told the Barnsley Chronicle:
““I've spoken to Hugo's representatives and they want to keep the door open,” “They want more time to mull over our offer and he’s got a couple of things to sort out, but in the meantime we're looking for a replacement for him and there is always a danger that the player could miss the boat and we move on without him."