Barnsley are ready to meet United’s valuation of Tom Pearce ahead of a late summer transfer to Oakwell, according to The Athletic’s respected Leeds journalist Phil Hay.
The two clubs have been in negotiations regarding a potential deal for the past few weeks, as Marcelo Bielsa does not see the 21-year-old defender as someone who will play a part in his plans this season following a bit-part role last term.
Tykes boss Daniel Stendel has been eying Pearce this summer as he is keen to boost his defensive numbers at left-back, and a move is now “looking likely”, according to Hay.
Leeds Live, meanwhile, note that Pearce is expecting his move to go through before Thursday’s deadline, after training with fellow Bielsa outcast Conor Shaughnessy near York in a bid to maintain fitness ahead of potential transfers away from Elland Road.
The England Under 21 international is likely to pen a three-year deal at Oakwell before the window slams shut, on personal terms close to what he has been earning in West Yorkshire for the past year, having signed a four-season contract little over twelve-months ago.
Bolton Wanderers had also sounded out a move for Pearce, who decided to join Aapo Halme and Malik Wilks at Barnsley in a six-figure deal, The Sun’s Alan Nixon believes will see Leeds bank £275,000.
Here’s how these Leeds fans reacting when Hay shared that a move is “looking likely”.
Dont get this one at all! At one point not long back weren’t Everton gushing spunk over him ?
— lufcmat (@Mathew1982) August 6, 2019
Yes but MB will be gone in 10 months and then what. Can’t be allowed that much power to sell off willy nilly coz not in his plans for the next 10 months.
— Simon Williams (@DwelsSimon) August 6, 2019
Never mind the first team being low on numbers the under 23s have to be getting low now.
— Smeddy lufc (@smeddy69) August 6, 2019
Must be a good amount off the wage bill by now
— Stephen Foster (@stephenfoster81) August 6, 2019
Christ, my heart skipped a beat or two
— Ricky Block ???????? (@richardblock24) August 6, 2019
This an absolute disaster of a transfer window
— Captin (@Captin22729483) August 6, 2019
We are the feeder club for Barnsley
— GoProBarney (@BarneyStuart21) August 6, 2019
Ben White in training next week pic.twitter.com/2wVIglwglp
— Conor McGilligan (@Conor_ALTV) August 6, 2019
Great, more money to do nothing with
— WACCOE ???????? (@WaccoeOnline) August 6, 2019
Pontus Jansson, Jack Clarke, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Mallik Wilks, Kemar Roofe, Tom Pearce, Hadi Sacko, De Bock and several more + it’s the centenary year which = more merch sales and yet we can’t afford to bring in Kent along with a loan Striker because of FFP? Give it a rest.
— Lucas (@LB__CS) August 6, 2019
Don’t think we’ve sold so many players in one window since we got relegated from the PL?
— batesylufc2 (@batesylufc2) August 6, 2019
Not now Phil
— Cohen¹¹????????®️©️™️ (@Pearceesque) August 6, 2019