The race for promotion is heating up in League One, with Barnsley still looking to fight off strong competition from Sunderland for the second automatic promotion spot.

The pair have been at loggerheads all season and battled hard at Oakwell last week, in a game which eventually finished 0-0.

If the Tykes did miss out on automatic promotion though, then losing out to Sunderland is no mean feat. They are a massive club with some fantastic players, and it only highlights what a tremendous job Daniel Stendel has done in his first managerial stint in England.

Barnsley are likely to have a busy summer on their hands, and may find it hard to keep their standout players at the club after an impressive season so far.

The Tykes though, could really fortune from their promotion rivals’ troubles of late, with play-off contenders Peterborough United looking set to lose defender Ryan Tafazolli.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony has confirmed that the defender will leave the club at the end of the season, when his current contract expires - here, we take a look at why Barnsley should be all over this breaking news...

Perfect replacement for Liam Lindsay

Liam Lindsay is a man in demand after a hugely impressive campaign thus far.

The 23-year-old has been a regular for the Tykes, forming a solid partnership with Ethan Pinnock at the back - the Yorkshire club currently boast the best defensive record in the league having conceded just 28 goals this term.

However, with the likes of Aston Villa circling around the Scotsman, the Tykes need to draw up a list of replacements, and signing a commanding, powerful defender like Tafazolli makes perfect sense.

A free transfer would be daylight robbery

Signing Tafazolli on a free transfer is an opportunity that Barnsley simply must take.

He is easily one of the best defenders in the division on his day, and is more than capable of stepping up to the Championship should they win promotion this term.

It would be incredible business by Barnsley, and it would allow them to spend big elsewhere as well as signing a very good player at the same time.

He is in his prime years

At the age of 27 years old, Tafazolli is in his prime years, and will be determined to play at the highest level possible before he begins to decline.

He has been in and out of form this season, but is a comfortable bottom-half Championship defender on his day.

Barnsley would be getting him at his best if they signed him.