Transfer Gossip (Wednesday): Barnsley defender hands in request | Sheffield Wednesday close on Bristol Rovers striker | Middlesbrough step up Bojan bid

The Lewisham-born midfielder moved to Oakwell in the summer of 2015 from Inverness Caledonian Thistle and has proved a popular figure with fans ever since, helping them to play-off and Johnstone’s Paints Trophy success last year.

He has coped admirably since moving up to the Championship under Heckingbottom but, with Sam Winnall already out the door to neighbours Sheffield Wednesday and captain Conor Hourihane and James Bree set to join Aston Villa, news of Watkins also wanting to leave is the last thing the Barnsley boss will want to receive.

The 26-year-old has been linked with Bristol City - where former Reds boss Lee Johnson now works - and Ipswich Town. Like other key players at Oakwell, Watkins’s contract is scheduled to expire this summer meaning interest in his availability will only grow in the last week of the window.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is thought to be stepping up his pursuit of Spanish forwards Jese Rodriguez and Bojan Krkic. Riodriguez - who worked with Karanka at Real Adrid - has not settled in France after moving to Paris St Germain, while Krkic is unsettled at Stoke City, despite Potters boss Mark Hughes insisting that he wants the forward to remain at the club.

Boro are desperate to bring in some added firepower to boost his team’s goal tally, with Boro sitting just four points above the drop zone and having scored just 18 Premier League goals all season.

Sheffield Wednesday face a battle to secure the signature of Bristol Rovers forward Matty Taylor should he exercise a release clause in his contract.

Reports suggest the Owls are keen on bringing the 26-year-old to Hillsborough, but so are Championship rivals Wolves, Brentford and Norwich City.

The former Chester and Forest Green striker has fired 19 goals in 32 appearances for the League One club this season, contributing to a 63-goal haul in 106 appearances for The Pirates since arriving in the summer of 2014.

Bradford City are weighing up a move for Carlisle United’s top scorer Charlie Wyke after seeing James Hanson leave for League One rivals Sheffield United.

The 24-year-old has scored 17 times already this season and is known to Bantams through head of recruitment Greg Abbott, a former manager at Carlisle.

Reports suggest Bradford boss Stuart McCall is prepared to trigger a release clause of around £400,000 in the striker’s contract.