Newly promoted Championship side Barnsley are hopeful of beating a number of other Football League clubs to the signing of non-league hot shot Reggie Young, Football Insider have reported.

Young is a free agent after turning down a new contract with last season's National League South play-off promotion winners Woking at the end of the campaign, and that appears to have sparked something of a scramble for his signature further up the divisions.

Having scored ten goals and provided seven assists on loan at Farnborough in the seventh tier of English football last season, Young is now on trial with League Two Colchester United, where he is thought to have impressed in two friendlies for The U's Under 23s side.

Barnsley, however, are said to be confident of winning the race for the 20-year-old's signature, with the Tykes planning to offer Young a two-year deal in a bid to bring him to Oakwell, as the club seeing Young as someone who would match their policy of bringing through young players.

As well as Barnsley and Colchester, an as-yet-unnamed League One side are also thought to be interested in a move for Young.

The Verdict

This is one of those transfer battles that you feel could go either way.

On the face of things, Barnsley's league position and financial strength in comparison to that of Colchester should mean this is a relatively easy deal for the Tykes to complete.

However, you imagine Young has got a better chance of experiencing senior football immediately if he joins Colchester, and he may back himself to make a big enough impact there to quickly attract attention from the likes of Barnsley further up the divisions.

Either way, this is a big decision for the 20-year-old to make as he steps into full-on professional football for the first time in his career, and it is not one that he should be rushing to confirm before he has assessed all his options.