Barnsley: Reds close on St Mirren midfielder Stevie Mallan

The Championship Reds have had an offer in the region of £300,000 accepted by the Scottish club for one of their prized assets.

Twenty-one-year-old Mallan is one of the most promising youngsters to come through the ranks at the Paisley club for some time.

Personal terms are still to be agreed, with a sell-on clause included in the contract.

However, the bid nearly did not make it to the Buddies as Barnsley made a faux pas.

The South Yorkshire club accidentally e-mailed the offer for the player to the Scottish side’s supporters’ website,

www.stmirren.co.uk.

The site’s editor graciously passed the bid on to the club, but not before the powers that be at Oakwell were left red-faced.

The creative midfielder fits the mould of player manager Paul Heckingbottom is looking for at the club as he looks to bolster his depleted squad this summer.

At just 21, he is young and hungry to improve - traits which the Reds look for in their incoming players.

The Scot scored 11 goals this term, with six of those coming in the last 10 games, as the Buddies stayed up in the Scottish Championship.

It is a much-needed signing for the Reds after losing the likes of Sam Winnall, Conor Hourihane, James Bree, Marley Watkins and Josh Scowen over the past few months.

Heckingbottom’s early business may not be finished, with the club eyeing Fleetwood Town right-back Conor McLaughlin.

As it stands, the Northern Ireland international would be available on a free transfer as his current deal expiring this summer.

Conor’s younger brother, Ryan, previously spent a stint on loan at Oakwell from Liverpool in 2014.

Meanwhile, a chief executive is still yet to be appointed at Barnsley after Linton Brown’s departure back in January.

Click here for the latest news from Oakwell