Exclusive: Big Barnsley FC, Davis Keillor-Dunn transfer twist emerges | OneFootball

Barnsley are prepared to sanction the sale of marksman Davis Keillor-Dunn in a surprise January development, Football League World has learned

Barnsley are now prepared to cash in on talisman Davis Keillor-Dunn this month in a significant transfer twist at Oakwell, Football League World understands.

The Tykes have fallen some way short of competing for promotion under Conor Hourihane this term and are much closer to the relegation zone as opposed to the top-six, finding themselves positioned in 17th place after 21 matches.

Barnsley do, however, have a number of fixtures in hand over the rest of their opponents in League One, meaning a sudden charge from the South Yorkshire outfit cannot be ruled out in the weeks to come.

But supporters may now be even more skeptical of Barnsley's promotion credentials amid a potentially huge development regarding the immediate future of leading goalscorer Keillor-Dunn.

Barnsley prepared to sanction Davis Keillor-Dunn transfer exit in huge Tykes transfer twist

Football League World can exclusively reveal that Barnsley are open to sanctioning Keillor-Dunn's long-feared sale in the coming weeks, in a move which could pose a serious threat to the Tykes' ambitions of returning to the Championship.

FLW understands that this stance has been taken as a host of second-tier clubs chase the forward's signature, with Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough having both been linked with potential moves last summer.

Barnsley were said to be holding out for a significant multi-million pound offer to part ways with Keillor-Dunn, who moved to Oakwell from Mansfield Town in the summer of 2024, though it remains unclear exactly how much the 28-year-old is valued at right now.

The Tykes have lost three of their last four league matches ahead of next Monday's bumper FA Cup third-round trip to reigning top-flight champions Liverpool, but with the January window holding so much significance amid the clear need to strengthen, a potential exit for Keillor-Dunn may not go down well among the Reds faithful.

The versatile attacking star's contract currently runs until the summer of 2027, although Barnsley hold a club option to extend his terms by a further year.

Davis Keillor-Dunn has been an inspired signing for Barnsley amid fresh exit stance

Barnsley reportedly shelled out a £700,000 figure to prise Keillor-Dunn away from Mansfield after his eye-catching haul of 22 goals and 10 assists fired the Stags back to League One in the 2023/24 campaign, and the ex-Oldham Athletic ace has certainly repaid his side's outlay.

Keillor-Dunn recorded 19 goals and seven assists across all competitions throughout his debut campaign in Yorkshire, and has been similarly inspired in the final third this term.

The Tykes frontman is League One's leading goalscorer from open play with 11 strikes from just 21 appearances and is tied with Dominic Ballard and Yousef Salech of Leyton Orient and Cardiff City respectively, while he finds himself just one strike shy of Plymouth Argyle's Lorent Tolaj.

Having proven himself as one of the finest attacking operators League One has to offer ever since making the move to Barnsley, allowing a mid-season exit when his contractual situation doesn't even necessitate a reluctant sale could represent a big misstep from the Tykes' key decision-makers - with the club's promotion capabilities sure to come into question if Keillor-Dunn does indeed depart.