Exclusive: Derby County and Bristol City plot move to sign Barnsley star | OneFootball

Derby County and Bristol City are both eyeing a move for in-demand Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary, Football League World understands

Derby County and Bristol City will both be bidding to execute successful summer transfer windows in an effort to bridge the gap after missing out on a top-six spot in the 2025/26 Championship campaign - and as such preparations head underway, Football League World can exclusively reveal a new emerging target on the respective radars of the two second-tier outfits.

The Rams enjoyed an uplifting season in what was John Eustace's first full term in charge at Pride Park, narrowly escaping relegation to League One this time last year before elevating up the table into play-off contention.

Derby were in the mix for a top-six finish for the first time since 2019 up until the final day of the campaign and ultimately finished just four points shy of sixth-placed Hull City in eighth position, and will be expected to potentially go one better next time out.

Bristol City, meanwhile, fell short of replicating an unexpected finish inside the play-offs under Liam Manning in the 2024/25 campaign, and rounded off the term with Roy Hodgson at the helm on an interim basis after parting ways with Gerhard Struber.

The Robins returned to the familiar grounds of mid-table and finished the season in twelfth-place, although plans for 2026/27 are already firmly afoot with the West Country outfit reportedly eyeing a swoop of highly-rated head coach John Mousinho from Championship rivals Portsmouth.

Derby and Bristol City both hope to re-establish their credentials and battle for play-off contention once the new season commences in August, and ahead of the summer transfer window, Football League World has now learned of their shared interest in a star who has made waves at League One level all year long.

Derby County and Bristol City eyeing Barnsley, Reyes Cleary transfer raid

The player in question is sought-after Barnsley star Reyes Cleary, who has emerged as a reported target for no shortage of Championship clubs in recent months following an outstanding debut campaign at Oakwell and is now receiving fresh admiration heading into the summer period.

Football League World can exclusively reveal that Derby and Bristol City are now ready to join the chase for Cleary's signature, which is poised to be courted by a series of second-tier outfits in the coming weeks and months.

Cleary, who joined Barnsley from West Bromwich Albion last summer, enjoyed a stunning opening season in South Yorkshire by returning seven goals and a joint-league-best return of 13 assists from 42 third-tier appearances as the Tykes recorded a disappointing 13th-placed finish.

The winger's future has been the subject of significant speculation for some time now, and FLW understands that Barnsley are set to be forced into sanctioning his sale this summer in an effort to raise funds amid financial uncertainty surrounding the League One club.

Previous reports late in the January window suggested that Barnsley had set an asking price of £5 million for the 22-year-old's signature following claimed interest from the likes of Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.

Bristol City were also noted among Cleary's admirers, and FLW can now disclose that the West Country outfit are now seeking to revitalise their interest and beat the likes of Derby and others in what is set to be a frantic transfer race with multiple contestants across the off-season.

Derby County may hold Barnsley, Reyes Cleary transfer advantage over Bristol City

Sizeable competition is anticipated for Cleary's services, which have attracted interest throughout the Championship as of late and are sure to be the subject of an impending bidding war.

Of the latest suitors, however, it may be Derby who are most likely to win that race. Rams owner David Clowes has afforded handsome backing to Eustace in recent windows and the East Midlands outfit were not shy of spending last summer, with much of the same expected this time around if the 46-year-old is to remain at Pride Park and direct a potential promotion push next term.

Bristol City, in contrast, often operate on a more limited budget, and while that has continually frustrated supporters, it doesn't seem as though the Robins are going to amplify their spending to a great extent until new ownership is sourced.

That means that, although Barnsley are now known to be reluctantly willing to sell the tricky wide-man, he will still have a price and Derby could just be best-placed to meet the Tykes' valuation and add yet another talented forward operator to Eustace's ranks.