Exclusive: Charlton Athletic, Stockport County & Peterborough United in transfer chase for Walsall's Connor Barrett | OneFootball

Saddlers right-back Connor Barrett is on the radar of clubs higher up the English footballing pyramid

Walsall right-back Connor Barrett is being eyed up by clubs in the Championship and League One, sources have exclusively told Football League World.

The Saddlers narrowly missed out on promotion from League Two last season, losing out to AFC Wimbledon in the play-off final at Wembley and making sure they'd spend a seventh-straight season in the fourth tier of English football.

One player that missed the majority of the play-off campaign was Barrett, who had been signed the previous summer from non-league AFC Fylde, and became one of, if not the top player in his position for the 2024-25 season, notching eight assists in the league that season.

A red card picked up though in the penultimate regular season match against Accrington Stanley after coming off the bench saw him ruled out for three matches, meaning he missed both semi-final legs and only returned for the final, in which he was a substitute once more instead of a starter.

Charlton Athletic eyeing up Connor Barrett, Walsall transfer deal

Walsall boss Mat Sadler has returned Barrett to his starting berth at right wing-back though at the start of the current campaign, and he's already showed his effectiveness in the final third, with two goals already in his first five League Two outings.

The 23-year-old's form is not going unnoticed though, and with less than a week to go in the summer transfer window, FLW has been told a number of clubs are eyeing up a move for Barrett - namely Championship outfit Charlton Athletic.

The Addicks won promotion to the second tier at Wembley earlier in 2025, and despite already replacing last season's first-choice right wing-back Thierry Small with Blackpool winger Rob Apter, Nathan Jones is looking into a move for Barrett too in a bid to add further depth in that position, as well as the right-back role if a unit of four is used, with Kayne Ramsey occupying that position.

Stockport County & Peterborough United also keen on Connor Barrett

League One clubs though are also looking to offer ex-Leicester City man Barrett a step up the pyramid though, and they include Stockport County.

The Hatters loaned in Barnsley's Corey O'Keeffe in the transfer window, who plays a similar role to Barrett, but a more permanent fixture for the right wing-back role at Edgeley Park is seemingly being plotted by manager Dave Challinor.

They are joined by struggling Peterborough United in the mix for Barrett, despite landing the services of Oxford United's Peter Kioso on loan for the season last week.

Posh have picked up just one point from a possible 15 so far in League One, but Darren Ferguson has Barrett on his radar in a bid to further strengthen at the back.

Barrett still has two years remaining on the three-year contract he signed at the Bescot Stadium last summer, so it's likely going to take a significant fee to prise him away from Sadler's grasp.