Reds Bag Bradshaw

Barnsley have pulled off a major coup in the transfer market by beating Championship rivals Rotherham United to the signature of Tom Bradshaw.

The 23 year old was one of the best strikers in League One last season, netting 20 times in 50 games as Walsall finished third in the table- just a point off automatic promotion and the Welsh international has scored 40 times in 87 appearances in total for the Saddlers since arriving from Shrewsbury in 2014 where he had scored 17 times in 98 games.

However following Walsall’s play-off defeat by Barnsley in May, both Barnsley and Rotherham had bids rejected. Bradshaw though issued a formal transfer request at the Banks’ Stadium yesterday stating he wished to pursue Championship football and that encouraged The Reds to make another offer- believed to be around £600,000 with add ons- and today it has been reported that Bradshaw has passed his medical at Oakwell and will be formally announced tomorrow morning.

Walsall had wanted a fee close to the £1m mark despite the player only having a year left on his contract as Shrewsbury are entitled to 20%.

Bradshaw could be joined by Belgian striker Jinty Caenepeel from FC Eindhoven. The 19 year old was spotted in the crowd during The Reds 2-0 friendly win at Guiseley on Tuesday night and is another believed to have passed a medical but the two clubs are still thrashing out a fee. Some media outlets claim Barnsley had had a 600,000 euro (around £500,000) fee rejected. Caenepeel started his career in his home country with Gent before moving to Holland in 2015 and he has netted 15 goals in 29 appearances for the Eerste Divisie side and he has represented Belgium at every level from Under 15 to Under 19 scoring eight times in 39 games.

Total appearances 130 (+ 55 as sub); Goals 57; Yellow cards 6; Red cards 0