A source at Oakwell has confirmed that Derby County have made an offer for Barnsley captain Jason Shackell following speculation that he is a number one target for Hull City as well as The Rams.

With Barnsley still without a manager, no decision will be made until a new manager is in place so that the footballing implications of losing such an influential player can be discussed.  Given that losing a player of Shackell’s quality can only have a negative impact on Barnsley’s chances next season, the real discussions will surround whether the player wants to leave, and how much the club can gain financially from the transfer.

A fee in the region of £700,000 is apparently what Derby County have offered, however given Shackell’s importance to the team and proven quality at Championship level, Barnsley should be in a position to negotiate a higher fee – after all, a suitable replacement will not be cheap.