Exclusive: Huddersfield Town & Barnsley in transfer battle for 27-year-old | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town and Barnsley are both interested in Lincoln City captain Paudie O'Connor, Football League World understands

League One duo Huddersfield Town and Barnsley are battling it out for the signing of Lincoln City defender Paudie O'Connor on a free transfer, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Both sides finished the 2024/25 League One campaign in mid-table and will be looking to propel up the table and compete for promotion next time out.

Huddersfield, who are in talks for a sensational return for ex-manager David Wagner, are in a period of transition and a significant rebuild is being undertaken in West Yorkshire. Town recently announced that nine senior players have been released at the end of their contracts, including experienced defensive duo Matty Pearson and Tom Lees.

Barnsley, meanwhile, have also released a clutch of players following a disappointing 12th-placed finish, one of those being two-cap United States international defender Donovan Pines.

Huddersfield Town and Barnsley in transfer battle for Lincoln City's Paudie O'Connor

Sources close to FLW have revealed that the two Yorkshire outfits are battling for O'Connor, who is due to become a free agent next month unless he puts pen to paper on fresh terms at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln have been fighting desperately to tie O'Connor down to a new deal, but the Imps captain is yet to sign on and is looking increasingly to leave the club on a free transfer upon the expiration of his current contract.

O'Connor is set to be sought-after following three impressive campaigns with Lincoln, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in League One.

The 27-year-old made 44 appearances for Lincoln as they finished the season in 11th, directly sandwiched between Huddersfield and Barnsley - two of O'Connor's current suitors, of course.

However, Lincoln's 2-0 final day defeat at home to Wrexham may have proved to be his 141st and final appearance for the Imps, three years on from his arrival from Bradford City.

Signing Lincoln City's Paudie O'Connor would be a statement of intent for Huddersfield, Barnsley

It would be a statement of intent if Huddersfield or Barnsley were able to get a deal over the line for O'Connor.

By now, he is established and widely recognised among the best defenders below the Championship, and could well earn second-tier interest in the coming weeks.

Huddersfield and Barnsley would both benefit from a defender of O'Connor's quality, leadership and experience in their respective ranks, and each could make a statement of their own intentions for promotion in 2025/26 by winning the race for his signature.