Barnsley are set to battle League One rivals as well as other European sides in a race to sign Queens Park Rangers‘ Ziyad Larkeche.

The defender, who previously played for the Tykes in a loan spell from Fulham, has been at Loftus Road for the past three years, but is facing an uncertain future just 12 months after penning a new contract.

Tykes Continue Defensive Signing Search

Larkeche’s time at the R’s has been cast into doubt by manager Julien Stephan, who confirmed that he would look to loan him out as he continues to recover from a long-term cruciate ligament injury he suffered in August of last year.

The tag on the Frenchman has now alerted clubs to a potential signing, and according to West London Sport, Barnsley are keen on making a move to bring back their former loanee.

However, they are not alone in their admiration, with Bromley also weighing up a move amid reports they could be in for Notts County left-wing-back Jodi Jones, on top of interest from Annecy, Rodez and Guingamp in the French Ligue 2.

Barnsley have been facing an overhaul of their defensive unit over the past few weeks, having sanctioned exits for both Kacper Lopata and Mael de Gevigney, as well as a reported move away for Josh Earl.

Daniel Stendel has already taken steps to address those outgoings, securing a loan deal for Blackburn Rovers’ Connor O’Riordan, with a £500,000 option to buy included in the agreement.

Larkeche played 23 times at Oakwell in what was his first taste of senior football in his career, playing under Michael Duff as the Tykes finished fourth in League One.

Key Deal To Make For Barnsley

Barnsley are in need of some new defensive options after a late-window overhaul of their current options, and Ziyad Larkeche could be a shrewd acquisition to round out their business.

While a further central defender on top of Connor O’Riordan could go a long way to adding to their depth, left-back is perhaps the key area of concern, with 18-year-old Arley Kay stepping up to start the season with some admirable performances.

Larkeche is still on the road to recovery following his ACL injury last summer, and as seen with other players facing long-term layoffs, he will take some time to get up to speed.

Kay is certainly the future for the Tykes and looks ready to make the step up, but having a more experienced option to support and challenge him for his spot is ideal, and therefore, Larkeche should be a top priority in the final week of the window.

However, whether Barnsley are the ideal option remains to be seen, as with Bromley linked with Jodi Jones, they might not see this deal as a priority, and with a move to France on the cards, the 23-year-old may want to head back home to a club like Rodez, who have their own full-back needs after selling Nolan Galves to West Bromwich Albion.