Barnsley FC head coach Conor Hourihane sets out aim for 'exciting' assets with January transfer window looming
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane wants to build around his young assets - and help them out with some more experience.
Eight senior signings were made in the summer yet only two - Tennai Watson and David McGoldrick - are over the age of 24.
The impacts of Patrick Kelly and Reyes Cleary have been particularly welcomed as they were tied to permanent deals.
However, Hourihane is looking to put his exciting young players at the centre of his plans rather than use them to generate income in the transfer market.
Plan for assets
He said: “We went a little bit younger at times in the summer to really get exciting players and to create assets. We're delighted obviously to have them and we want to keep having them.
“Hopefully, come the end of the window, they're here, because that's what I want - I want to build around these players. But [we] understand the moment that we're in as well in terms of, if something does happen, we'll approach that in the right way.”
Looking to recruit
Hourihane has made no secret of his desire for additions in January and the need was underlined in his side’s final game of 2025.
A 2-0 defeat to Lincoln City sent the Reds plummeting to 15th in the League One table.
The word ‘rebuild’ has been thrown around Oakwell, yet experience could potentially prevent the current campaign being merely a transitional one.
He said: “I've made it very, very clear since a couple of weeks ago. I think everyone in the building knows the requests I've put in and what I'm after.
“If we get that in, we'll look strong for the second half of the season with all the games that we have. Hopefully come the end of January, that will be the case.
“We've got some really exciting players and the club's in a bit of a phase now where it's a little bit of a rebuild with younger, exciting players.
“And if we can recruit properly in January, hopefully, come the end of it, we'll get some players to guide the younger lads as well.”
As a player, Hourihane experienced first-hand how shrewd transfer business can raise the standards in a squad that has fallen below expectations.
As a head coach, he hopes to see history repeat.
He said: "I've been involved in so many dressing rooms where, whether it's summer window or January window, one or two come in the building and you go ‘oh, they're not bad’.
"Or they've got leadership, or they're not youngsters, let's say. And we're hoping by the end of January, that would be the case.
"You've got to keep believing. I think it's an important time for the club in terms of the period that we're in, in terms of we're not quite winning the games that we want.
“And we're also entering the January window as well - it's a time where you can obviously strengthen and get bodies in the building.
"I think it's a really important time now to knuckle down from a training and players point of view and also the window that we're in.”