Barnsley would allow star winger Reyes Cleary to leave the club this summer if the right price is offered.

The 22-year-old had a breakout season at Oakwell, emerging as a key figure in the Tykes squad in an otherwise dour campaign in South Yorkshire, scoring seven times and recording 15 assists across 50 appearances in all competitions.

Flatman Makes Exit Admission

However, Barnsley’s budget cutbacks have made generating income a priority for the club going forward, with player sales crucial to keeping the books level, having already done so with the exit of Davis Keillor-Dunn in January.

Now, when speaking to the Barnsley Chronicle on what can be expected in this upcoming summer transfer window, which opens in less than two weeks’ time, Tykes CEO Jon Flatman confirmed that at least some players will be moved on.

“I’m sure there’ll be at least one sale this summer. But what there’ll also be is recruitment on the other side.

“Can we find more Reyes Clearys and more Patrick Kellys and ensure that the (Jono) Blands and the (Vimal) Yoganathans continue to come through the system?

“And before you know it, you’ve got a pretty exciting team.

“Naturally, those that have the opportunity to go to the next level will go with our blessing, but they’ll go with our blessing if the numbers are right.”

When pressed about Cleary explicitly, who was subject to a £1.5 million bid from Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers over the winter, Flatman added:

“There has been interest in Reyes this summer and we’ll continue to monitor that situation as we’ve said all along.

“He is a quality footballer and quality footballers will attract attention from other clubs. His age makes him a very exciting option for clubs. But Reyes Cleary will leave the club when the numbers are right for Barnsley FC.

“We’ve shown strength in that in January, and we’ll show strength again this summer if we need to. We’ve given Reyes a great platform and he’s taken that opportunity with both hands. We hope he continues to reward the club and himself.”

Interest in the former West Bromwich Albion starlet has already emerged ahead of the window opening, with Football League World revealing in March that Bristol City and Derby County would consider making offers.

Rovers were fended off in January despite their intense pursuit of Cleary, with a £5 million price tag placed on the winger, which ultimately dissuaded any moves from being completed.

Exit Likely, But Next Steps Key

Given his excellent efforts in his breakout season in the EFL, capped off by impressing on the national stage against Liverpool in the FA Cup, Reyes Cleary was always going to be pursued by clubs from higher divisions this summer.

While a £5 million fee is likely to be a steep figure for any side to match in the market, it is likely that with some negotiation and the insertion of some favourable clauses, the 22-year-old will be packing his bags in order to impress in the Championship.

That would mark a great deal for Barnsley to make, certainly plugging their financial holes that have grown larger and larger in past years, but some of that figure has to be reinvested into the playing squad.

Between that and the figure received from the late-window exit of Davis Keillor-Dunn, there is a lot of funding available to returning boss Daniel Stendel, and targeting some prospects from elsewhere could spearhead the club to a much better performance next season.

Cleary’s exit would leave a key vacancy in the wide areas, and perhaps putting in a challenge to Peterborough United and Reading target Kyreece Lisbie could give them a more than ample replacement to the Tykes’ number 19.

Indeed, they may also want to explore the non-league market, and given his impressive performances for Boreham Wood this season, adding Abdul Abdulmalik to their ranks would keep some youth on the flanks, with the ex-Millwall academy star just one year older than Cleary.

With David McGoldrick also out of the picture, signing a striker who has proven himself in League One is also a must and a free agent swoop for a Yorkshire lad in Ashley Fletcher may be a shrewd deal to make with no news of whether he will continue on at Blackpool.