According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, via X, the Tykes have been rebuffed by their new divisional rivals the Stags in their pursuit of Keillor-Dunn ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Barnsley will be looking to assemble a squad capable of achieving promotion next term under the stewardship of Darrell Clarke, who took the reins at Oakwell in May after Neill Collins was dismissed just before their play-off semi-final elimination to Bolton Wanderers across two legs.
Having spent the last two seasons falling short in the League One play-offs, the upcoming campaign may impose even more difficulty with Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United and Birmingham City all coming down from the Championship but each pulling off impressive early transfer captures to strengthen next term’s much-anticipated promotion race.
Barnsley themselves have been active in the market to date by bringing in Jackson Smith, Connor Barratt, Marc Roberts and Conor Hourihane in a player-coach role.
33-year-old Hourihane, who left Derby County at the end of last season following their promotion to the Championship and the expiration of his deal, is still fondly remembered at Oakwell after scoring 31 times and making 40 assists in an impressive two-and-a-half year stay before joining Aston Villa in 2017.
Barnsley’s interest in Mansfield Town’s Davis Keillor-Dunn
According to O’Rourke, Barnsley made an offer for the Mansfield forward, but it was quickly turned down. The amount that the Tykes have put up, whether they plan to submit another bid, and Mansfield’s asking price are all unknown at this time.
Nigel Clough is unlikely to be willing to let Keillor-Dunn depart on the cheap though, with the forward having scored 22 times and laid on a further 10 to lead Mansfield’s return to the third-tier of English football for the first time in 20 years.
In January 2023, Keillor-Dunn left Burton Albion to sign a two-and-a-half year contract with the Stags. In his 70 games to date, he has been a huge impact in the East Midlands, scoring 28 goals and providing 14 assists. The 26-year-old’s current contract is scheduled to expire at the end of the following campaign, so if Barnsley’s interest piques his, they may be able to successfully complete a summer acquisition.
Barnsley must continue pursuit of Mansfield Town’s Davis Keillor-Dunn despite rejected bid
Even though Mansfield may have put them in a difficult position by rejecting their bid, Barnsley shouldn’t be thinking about giving up on Keillor-Dunn just yet.
Clarke urgently needs to add firepower to his side, with 18-goal forward and leading goalscorer Devante Cole having left South Yorkshire following the end of his contract, while John McAtee has also returned to Luton Town after his productive loan spell was concluded.
The duo directly scored 36% of Barnsley’s 82 league goals and replacing them adequately is a serious call of duty for the Tykes if they’re serious about challenging for promotion in what could well be the toughest top-end League One season in many years.
Although Keillor-Dunn has primarily plied his trade in League Two, McAtee himself had scored the bulk of his goals with Grimsby Town in the National League before becoming a success at Barnsley last season, which supporters could benefit from keeping in mind.
Equally capable as an attacking midfielder behind the striker or leading the line, Keillor-Dunn can carve out chances as well as finishing them, addressing two key problems in the Barnsley squad at present.
Barnsley should continue their chases for the time being at least, even though Mansfield may have priced them out of a move given the lack of current openness regarding the financial aspects of the possible trade.
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