Exclusive: Barnsley FC, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Reading plot moves for Brighton forward | OneFootball

Barnsley, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Reading are all interested in Brighton and Hove Albion's Mark O'Mahony, Football League World understands

League One trio Barnsley, Plymouth Argyle and Reading have joined Leyton Orient in the race for Brighton and Hove Albion striker Mark O'Mahony on loan, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The third-tier quartet will all have designs on competing at the top end of the table in the 2025/26 campaign.

Plymouth, of course, suffered relegation from the Championship alongside Cardiff City and Luton Town and have recently lost talisman Ryan Hardie to ambitious second-tier newcomers Wrexham, while Leyton Orient came agonisingly close to joining the Red Dragons in achieving promotion - only to lose out at the hands of Charlton Athletic in May's play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

Barnsley and Reading both fell short of securing top-six finishes last season, although the Royals ended up just three points shy of Richie Wellens' Orient side in the final play-off spot and will be looking to kick on next term after putting an end to the chaotic Dai Yongge era with Rob Couhig's purchase of the club.

Barnsley, Plymouth Argyle and Reading join Leyton Orient in transfer race for Brighton's Mark O'Mahony

Interest in young forward O'Mahony from Leyton Orient was first called by Alan Nixon of The Sun more than a week ago via his exclusive Patreon service, though the O's are now facing stiff competition from divisional rivals.

FLW can now reveal that Barnsley, Plymouth and Reading have all joined the race to secure the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international's services on a season-long loan ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and the Seagulls will have to decide where they feel represents the best destination for his development over the next twelve months.

O'Mahony has no shortage of suitors throughout League One following a mixed loan spell in the Championship with Portsmouth, where he returned three goals from 13 appearances.

The frontman's time at Fratton Park was disrupted by both injury and the goalscoring form of star striker Colby Bishop, and he spent 11 weeks on the sidelines with a serious muscle injury between November and February.

Brighton, who snapped up O'Mahony from Cork City in January 2023, will be keen for the striker to gain further experience elsewhere, which a number of League One clubs are looking to offer.

Brighton's Mark O'Mahony could be a big hit in League One

It's not too difficult to see exactly why four potential League One promotion contenders are all eyeing up O'Mahony's signature for next season, with the striker displaying relatively efficient goalscoring form in limited minutes at Pompey last time out.

O'Mahony, who posted an outstanding record of 18 goals and seven assists in 23 games across all competitions for Brighton at U21 level in the season before last, scored three times from just 593 minutes with John Mousinho's Portsmouth side at an average of 0.46 strikes per 90 minutes.

He's far from the finished article, of course, although the evidence would suggest that, with a clean bill of health, regular minutes and creative service from those around him, O'Mahony could prove a real hit in League One.

It's also worth noting that O'Mahony has already found the back of the net for Brighton's first-team, which came in a 4-0 EFL Cup rout of Crawley Town last term, and you can understand the reasoning behind interest from Barnsley, Plymouth, Reading and Orient - who have a particularly-productive track record with developing loan players in recent times.