Exclusive: Barnsley issued blunt transfer advice by Sky Sports pundit - Wrexham & QPR have been lurking | OneFootball

The Tykes have been told that they need to keep hold of Davis Keillor-Dunn this summer if they want a crack at promotion

In what is set to be a tough-looking League One in 2025-26, Barnsley may be one of the busier clubs in the division when it comes to trying to fend off clubs from a higher level for their players.

With chairman Neerav Parekh confirming close to the end of last season that player sales will be necessary in order to balance the books at Oakwell, there is a fear among the Tykes fanbase that several of their top talents may be on the move in the next few months.

And whilst a balance needs to be addressed in regards to making profit and keeping Conor Hourihane's squad competitive, one player that they perhaps cannot afford to lose is talisman Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Barnsley told they need to keep Davis Keillor-Dunn at all costs

In what was a disappointing 12th-placed finish in the 2024-25 League One table for Barnsley, one of their few positives was that of Keillor-Dunn.

Signed for £700,000 from Mansfield Town in the summer transfer window last year off the back of a 22-goal campaign in League Two for the Stags, Keillor-Dunn stepped up to England's third tier with ease, scoring 18 times across the course of the season and for the most part had to lead the line, despite being more of a number 10 naturally.

Whilst midfield generals Luca Connell and Adam Phillips may be assets worth cashing in on this summer, there is a general feeling that Keillor-Dunn is indispensible for Hourihane ahead of the upcoming campaign, but there is interest, with FLW exclusively revealing in May that Championship trio QPR, Oxford United and his former club Wrexham are keen on the 27-year-old.

And speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes that if Barnsley want any chance of promotion back to the Championship next season, they simply must keep Keillor-Dunn at all costs.

"I would have to agree that if Barnsley have any hope of promotion from League One next season, and as I've already alluded to it's going to be a tough league anyway, then they really have to keep hold of Davis Keillor-Dunn," Goodman told FLW.

"Only two players in League One scored more goals than him, and that was Jay Stansfield, who was in a Birmingham City team that romped the league, and Charlie Kelman, who had the most incredible season.

"So, for him to have got 18 goals in a team that were ultimately way, way off the pace is very, very impressive, and when you throw in the seven assists he got as well...he was an absolute key player for them, and they need to keep him if they can."

Davis Keillor-Dunn should be the main man for Barnsley in 2025-26 - but every player has a price

As Goodman said, only two players scored more goals in League One this past season than Keillor-Dunn, which is testament to the player he has become in the last few years.

Despite his scoring abilities, Barnsley still finished in the middle of the third tier pack, which suggests deficiencies in other areas of the pitch that in reality, Keillor-Dunn could do precious little about.

It's clear given his record last season that Hourihane needs to build his team around the mercurial forward, but as with most League One players, Keillor-Dunn will have a price-tag - one that if met, Barnsley will have to seriously consider or accept.