Exclusive: Don Goodman reveals double Barnsley FC concern amid Davis Keillor-Dunn exit talk | OneFootball

Don Goodman has given his verdict on whether Barnsley can challenge for promotion in League One next season.

Pundit Don Goodman admits he does not believe Barnsley will be serious contenders for promotion in League One next season, even if they are able to keep hold of midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Barnsley sat as high as fifth in the League One table in early January, but a subsequent decline in form saw them part company with manager Darrell Clarke in March, and they eventually finished 12th under his replacement Conor Hourihane.

As Hourihane begins work on rebuilding his squad after being handed the permanent job, the Tykes have brought in four new signings so far this summer, with goalkeeper Murphy Cooper, defender Nathanael Ogbeta and forwards Reyes Cleary and David McGoldrick arriving at Oakwell.

There have also been a number of departures, including Donovan Pines, Conor McCarthy, Josh Benson, Sam Cosgrove and Stephen Humphrys, but so far, Barnsley have been able to retain star man Keillor-Dunn.

After enjoying an outstanding debut campaign for the Reds following his move from Mansfield Town last summer, Keillor-Dunn was named in the League One Team of the Season last term, and Championship duo Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic are reportedly interest in the 27-year-old, who is believed to be valued at somewhere in the region of £5 million by the South Yorkshire outfit.

Don Goodman issues concerning Barnsley promotion claim

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman admitted that he has reservations about whether Barnsley will challenge for promotion in League One next season even if Keillor-Dunn remains at the club, and he claimed that their poor home form and defensive record are bigger causes for concern ahead of the new campaign.

"It would be a massive statement of intent if Barnsley were to keep Keillor-Dunn, but it's not really the area that was hindering them last season," Goodman said.

"The two big areas were the home form, which was awful, and they actually got nine points more away from home than they got at Oakwell, so that needs changing.

"The other thing was the defence.

"Only four teams conceded more goals than them, and three of them got relegated, so that's the obvious area.

"It would be a great boost for the fans of Barnsley if they were to keep Keillor-Dunn, but there are other more pressing areas to address.

"At this stage, I couldn't really see them challenging, certainly not for automatic promotion."

Barnsley will have lingering Davis Keillor-Dunn fear amid Oakwell exit speculation

Barnsley may have managed to keep hold of Keillor-Dunn so far, but it has been claimed the club are looking to sell some of their key players for a suitable price this summer, so his departure still feels the most likely outcome before the end of the window.

The Tykes do not appear to have had their resolve tested by any formal bids for Keillor-Dunn up to this point, but that could soon change as Championship interest in the midfielder increases, and it would be a huge blow for Hourihane to lose his main attacking threat.

Barnsley have made one high-profile striker signing this summer in the form of McGoldrick, who scored 17 goals for Notts County in League Two last season, but he is now 37 years of age, and there are big question marks over whether he can still deliver at League One level, while, as Goodman said, there are also plenty of issues for Hourihane to address in the other areas of the team.