Barnsley should have Reyes Cleary succession plan in motion by swooping for 8-goal ex-Millwall winger | OneFootball

Abdul Abdulmalik could fill the potential void left behind if Cleary departed Oakwell

It has been an underwhelming season in League One so far for Barnsley, and the situation for Conor Hourihane's side could look even more perilous by the time the winter transfer window closes at 7PM on Monday, February 2nd.

Despite boasting an extremely strong recent pedigree in the third tier, which includes two promotions from the division within the past 10 years, the Tykes are currently in the mid-table range for a second successive season, albeit, due to the congested nature of the standings and unpredictability of the league this term, a late play-off bid cannot entirely be ruled out if momentum was to soon pick up.

However, it's fair to say that the South Yorkshire side would find themselves in an even more concerning situation if it wasn't for the goalscoring and creative prowess of both Davis Keillor-Dunn and Reyes Cleary.

The duo have managed to accumulate over 20 goal contributions between themselves in League One so far, making them extremely feared by opposition supporters, defenders and head coaches, with the Reds only scoring just over 30 times as a combined tally to-date.

It was also no real surprise when the 28-year-old centre-forward and 21-year-old winger were at the forefront of an extremely spirited display in the flattering 4-1 FA Cup third round defeat against current Premier League champions, Liverpool, at Anfield on January 12th.

As such, transfer speculation has continued to gather its own form of momentum, leaving huge question marks over how much longer Hourihane will have their services at his disposal, as well as who the Irishman could be able to source as a replacement.

Although the Tykes may recoup a hefty sum of money for one, or both, a potential successor for Cleary has been at the top of his game in the National League so far this season, and seems destined for a swift return to the EFL in one way or another.

Barnsley have continued to hold Reyes Cleary exit fear amid Blackburn Rovers links

After spending plenty of time progressing through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, this season has proven to be a strong breakout campaign for Cleary, albeit the signs of such feats happening weren't exactly obvious upon his move to Oakwell.

The Birmingham-born winger struggled to make an impact in League Two with Walsall during the first half of last season under Mat Sadler, before scoring six times in 20 National League games for Hartlepool United.

However, the performances that have come since signing a three-year deal with the Tykes are allowing his current employers to potentially make a substantial short-term profit, although that does come with the fear of the unknown as to what would happen in terms of productivity.

The Reds have already batted off interest from Blackburn Rovers - managed by former Oakwell favourite Valerien Ismael, by placing a £5m valuation on Cleary, with the East Lancashire side reportedly offering just £1m.

The highly-rated forward has played with a fearlessness and direct nature that has allowed Barnsley to pick up some vital points so far this term, despite their overall inconsistencies.

This has been showcased, effectively on a national level, on two occasions.

The first of those came through his eye-catching 70-yard strike against Bradford City at Valley Parade on October 18th, before being named as Ally McCoist's Player of the Match against Liverpool for TNT Sports.

Therefore, it is clear that Cleary will not be short of suitors either now or in the summer, and neither will Boreham Wood's Abdul Abdulmalik, who should be on Barnsley's radar as a result.

The 22-year-old playmaker has endured an intriguing career path thus far, but it is one that could see him return to the professional game rather quickly.

Abdulmalik was previously a highly-rated figure within Millwall's Well Hall academy system, with his performances for the Lions' underage sides catching the eye of Arsenal, although a move to the Gunners would not materialise.

The former England Under-17s international had also caught the attention of Southampton and Swansea City, before eventually helping Millwall's Under-21s win the Professional Development League's Southern Division and National finals.

Yet, despite being so highly-rated and signing professional terms at The Den in the summer of 2023, Abdulmalik failed to make a senior appearance, moving to Boreham Wood in the summer of 2024.

Since then, Luke Garrard's side have been the clear beneficiaries of a potential transfer blunder by the South London club, with the versatile attacker certainly catching the eye in the National League promotion race so far this season.

Operating across the attacking midfield line, Abdulmalik has found the net nine times in all competitions so far this term, which included an eye-catching strike back in October against Aldershot Town.

Boreham Wood are currently well immersed in a battle to become an EFL club for the first-ever time, meaning it would be a huge blow for them to lose their prized asset.

However, with Cleary's form showcasing that Barnsley can unearth a gem, they could swoop to the front of a potential transfer queue for the ex-Millwall man, who is out-of-contract at Meadow Park in June 2027 as things stand.