Barnsley closing in on QPR transfer agreement for goalkeeper | OneFootball

The Tykes have been after a goalkeeper this summer.

Goalkeeper Murphy Cooper is set to secure another loan move away from Queens Park Rangers, with Barnsley reported to be his next destination.

QPR are yet to confirm the arrival of their new boss, Julien Stephan, although his move to Loftus Road is expected soon.

They have, however, secured new deals for Jimmy Dunne and Sam Field, leaving the soon-to-be French boss of the Hoops with a much better squad than had he been left without them.

Barnsley close to sealing QPR loan deal for Murphy Cooper

More contract news is reported to be on the way, with Cooper, formerly known as Murphy Mahoney, also in line to sign a new contract with the club.

According to West London Sport, the 23-year-old will put pen-to-paper and then head out to Oakwell for a temporary spell with the League One side.

Cooper spent last season on loan in the third tier with Stevenage.

The QPR man kept an impressive 16 clean sheets in 37 appearances for Boro. They wanted to bring him back, according to WLS, and there was also interest from Bolton Wanderers, but Conor Hourihane's Tykes is where the 23-year-old is set to end up.

Barnsley were in for another London-based shot-stopper this summer - Crystal Palace's Owen Goodman - however the former AFC Wimbledon loanee is set to join Huddersfield Town, whose interest in Goodman was revealed by Football League World.

Keeping the ball out the back of their net was a real problem for Barnsley last season. No side in the top half of League One conceded more than the 73 times that they did, an average of 1.6 per game.

They struggled to find a consistent first option between the sticks. The role bounced around from Gabriel Slonina to Ben Killip. After the latter was sold to Portsmouth in the winter window, the position became even more unstable.

Finding the person that can hold that spot in Hourihane's side consistently will be so important to an improved campaign next time out for Barnsley.

The constant chopping and changing of keepers not only makes it hard for the person in net to find rhythm, it also throws off those in the backline. That relationship between defence and goalkeeper needs to be built and established over time. That can't be done when there's little consistency of selection in goal.

Cooper certainly proved in his loan spell with Stevenage that he is a more than capable keeper at Barnsley's level. On top of the number of clean sheets - the joint-fourth most in the division last time out - the 23-year-old saved two-thirds of all the shots that he faced. If he is going to be their number one, they need to allow him time to build an understanding with those in front of him.