Reds boss Mark Robins has broken his usual policy of not talking about potential transfer targets by admitting he is interested in bringing Stoke City defender Ryan Shotton back to Oakwell for the start of the 2010-2011 season.
Shotton, 21, had a highly successful loan stint at Oakwell last season- although he was MUCH better in the 13 appearances he made before Christmas, rather than the 18 he made in 2010.
Robins has already moved to strengthen his backline this summer with the acquisitions of new captain Jason Shackell and Jay McEveley, but those two only make up for the departures of Darren Moore and Rob Kozluk.
Robins told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I want a centre half who can play possibly right back. There's Ryan Shotton, so I might go back to Stoke for him. It's unusual for me to talk about it in the press but that's what I'm going to do."