Exclusive: Barnsley lead race to land Brighton’s Caylan Vickers
Barnsley are leading the race ahead of several League One rivals to land Brighton attacker Caylan Vickers on loan, sources have told Football Insider.
Several Championship sides are also monitoring Vickers’ situation at Brighton with a view to a permanent move.
Vickers, 20, impressed on loan at Mansfield during the second half of last season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in 19 games.
Barnsley are keen to sign Vickers on loan to add to their midfield attacking options, and they are hoping to agree a deal with Brighton for the former Reading man.
Barnsley overhaul squad with promotion in mind
After suffering relegation in the 2021/22 season, the Reds booked playoff spots in the following two seasons, but to no avail.
What followed last term was an underwhelming campaign culminating in a 12th-placed finish, which, put simply, is not good enough for a club of Barnsley’s stature.
The Tykes have responded by letting go of nine players this summer as they bid to overhaul their squad.
David McGoldrick has been added from Notts County and whilst the Irish striker is approaching the end of his career, he will bring with him experience of playing at the highest level.
Barnsley’s summer business has been largely focused on recruiting from the divisions above them with a view to regaining their place in England’s second tier.
Barnsley building exciting attacking line-up
Goals came fairly easily last season, but it was the Reds’ defence that proved a major issue.
Barnsley outscored Charlton Athletic and Wrexham, but conceded a somewhat astonishing 73 goals, with only the bottom four and Peterborough’s defences leakier than the Tykes’.
However, with Nathan Ogbeta and Murphy Cooper having joined on loan to shore up the backline, Conor Hourihane’s side are back in the market to add to their attacking options
Vickers scored infrequently during his time at Mansfield, but the young attacker has plenty of talent and is capable of playing in a variety of positions.
This will allow Hourihane to field players like Davis Keillor-Dunn and in-demand Adam Phillips in several different positions, with the Brighton youngster filling the gaps.