Barnsley plot Crystal Palace transfer swoop - Huddersfield Town may have one eye on deal | OneFootball

The Tykes are eyeing a potential loan move for Owen Goodman

Barnsley are reportedly plotting a move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman following his recent recall from League One and Yorkshire rivals, Huddersfield Town.

That is according to Alan Nixon - via Patreon - which emerged late on Tuesday, with the Tykes looking to conduct transfer activity that they hope will steer them away from the third tier relegation battle after a poor run of recent form.

Conor Hourihane is currently overseeing his first full campaign in a full-time managerial post at Oakwell, having initially taken charge of his former club on an interim basis following the dismissal of Darrell Clarke 10 months ago.

Despite the Reds boasting previously strong pedigree at this level, which includes two promotion successes and a further two play-off campaigns since their most recent relegation from the Championship in 2022, they are currently in the thick of their worst spell in 20 years, having followed up last season's 12th-place finish with a current tally 29 points from their first 21 games of the current season, albeit they do have several games in hand in what is a congested division.

Regardless, though, sections of the fanbase have voiced their concerns as the Tykes currently sit just two points in front of Burton Albion, who currently take up the final spot in the relegation zone, although they were offered plenty of encouragement in terms of performance levels when Hourihane's men put in a courageous display against Premier League champions, Liverpool, at Anfield in the FA Cup third round on Monday night.

Aside from on-pitch matters, it has been exit talk that has generated plenty of headlines on the transfer front in this part of South Yorkshire, with the club's strongest two performers, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Reyes Cleary heavily linked with moves to the Championship.

However, with there now just under three weeks left until the transfer deadline of 7PM on Monday, February 2nd, the former Republic of Ireland international is reportedly looking to bolster his goalkeepers' union, although, as Nixon claims, it could come at a small cost.

Barnsley FC plot move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman

At present, the Tykes' goalkeeping department is made up of Queens Park Rangers loanee, Murphy Cooper and 22-year-old shot-stopper, Kieren Flavell, whilst Jackson Smith is currently on loan at Grimsby Town of League Two.

Cooper is currently in the thick of his third EFL loan away from the West London side, having previously enjoyed spells with Swindon Town and Stevenage, before moving to Oakwell on a temporary basis in the summer.

So far, the 24-year-old has started in all 21 of the club's League One fixtures, but has only managed to record two clean sheets, with the Reds currently boasting an even goal difference having scored and conceded 33 goals in that timeframe.

Goodman, of course, spent the first half of the season on loan with the Terriers away from last season's FA Cup winners, with Football League World initially revealing the interest held by Lee Grant towards the 22-year-old during his first transfer window in charge at the Accu Stadium.

The former Colchester United and AFC Wimbledon loanee was initially named as Grant's first-choice between the sticks as the season commenced in August, starting Town's opening six league fixtures.

Ironically, though, this particular run would come to an end at Oakwell, as the London-born man received a first-half red card for a late tackle on the Tykes' veteran forward, David McGoldrick.

Since then, he went on to feature just four more times as Lee Nicholls returned to the starting lineup, although a first call-up to the Canadian international squad did come Goodman's way in November.

However, his time in West Yorkshire reached an early conclusion last week, with Grant describing Goodman as "a pleasure to work with", and now speculation has begun over his next potential move away from Selhurst Park.

Nixon claims that Barnsley have taken an interest in pursuing a deal for the Eagles' shot-stopper alongside Bolton Wanderers, with Palace alerted to the Tykes' actions.

Although not in the initial report, Nixon later responded to a query from a supporter asking why such developments have come to the fore, stating that there is a fear that Cooper would be recalled by QPR that has prompted this course of action.

Goodman still has an extremely high reputation in the third and fourth tiers of English football, and would be hoping that a potential return to Yorkshire would offer him far more minutes than what he was able to accumulate with Huddersfield.

It remains to be seen whether this deal would be a loan or permanent move, given the fact Cooper could be recalled by Rangers. However, it must be noted that this is a position in which the Tykes have sourced plenty of temporary additions down the years, allowing for greater sums of money to be spent on other areas of the squad.