BARNSLEY are ready to sign a new centre back to replace Lewin Nyatanga.
Nyatanga had two spells on loan at Oakwell and it was thought the Welsh international defender would sign a contract ahead of next season.
"Apparently Lewin is staying at Derby. He's saying he's going to fight for his place there and that's where we're at," Barnsley boss Simon Davey explained.
"Lewin would have been a good acquisition. He's done well for us for the last two seasons but players make decisions. We'll move on from it. If we don't sign Lewin Nyatanga we'll sign someone else."
Stephen Foster and Denis Souza are likely to remain Davey's first-choice pair at centre-back.
Bobby Hassell can play there too and 21-year-old Rob Atkinson is an emerging talent.
Grimsby had Atkinson on loan last season and they want him back. Davey will assess him in pre-season before deciding whether to release him.
Meanwhile, Barnsley were being tipped to sign two players today - one a left-sided midfielder from Argentina.
Davey wanted to have four new players on the books by the end of the week.
He has secured a three-year deal for striker Iain Hume and will certainly want to conclude all other business before the players report back to Oakwell next Thursday.
Hume has spoken of his delight at his £1 million move to Oakwell.
"I played 40-odd games for Leicester last season and still finished top scorer even though half of those were out on the wing.
"I have taken the chance to come here for the next three years. I am delighted with that and now I want to repay the faith the club have shown in me."
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