It's starting to look like Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane may have outgrown the South Yorkshire side, with growing speculation that the midfielder may be on his way to greener pastures at some point this season.

At the moment it looks like Celtic are the most likely candidates to lure Hourihane away from Oakwell, with Brendan Rodgers keen to help the Irish international join his boyhood club.

The Celtic manager has reportedly ordered scouting reports on Hourihane, hoping the Barnsley midfielder can boost the Bhoys squad further.

Given that his contract expires at the end-of-the-season and non-English teams can begin to make pre-contract agreements in January, it seems a distinct possibility that Barnsley may seek to offload their captain in the next transfer window.

If Hourihane does leave in January, Barnsley will have a gaping hole to fill in their midfield.

The 25-year-old has scored 28 times for the Tykes since joining in 2014, won the Championship Player of the Month in August and is also the club's captain.

Here are THREE players that Paul Heckingbottom should consider signing in January if Hourihane leaves....

 

Sam Foley

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Even though he is half a decade older than Conor Hourihane, Port Vale midfielder Sam Foley has become a stalwart in the Valiants midfield and could fill the creative gap in midfield left by Hourihane.

Although he is a player that has proven himself in League One over the past 5 years, he hasn't played extensively in the Championship.

At this stage in his career, he may be a gamble, but Foley is an intelligent player that isn't reliant on pace and would relish the opportunity to prove himself at a higher level.

The 30-year-old already has four assists this season and could be a cheaper option for Heckingbottom, particularly if Hourihane leaves on a free transfer.

Alan Browne

Alan BrowneAlan Browne

If Barnsley are considering a younger replacement for Hourihane then 21-year-old Alan Browne could be an option.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 is yet to reach his full potential but he does have a relatively high number of Championship games under his belt considering his age.

The Preston midfielder has struggled to regularly be included in the side's starting eleven, with PNE's central midfield well equipped with more experienced players.

However, he has shown considerable promise when he has turned out for both his club and the Republic of Ireland's youth sides.

Graham Carey

Graham Carey

Paul Heckingbottom may want to look to Hourihane's former club Plymouth if the midfielder leaves in January.

27-year-old Graham Carey has had a fantastic start to the season, assisting four and scoring five goals since the start of the campaign.

Plymouth may also be more open to the deal if Hourihane is sold rather than let go, as they have a sell-on clause that will be worthless if the midfielder leaves on a free this summer.

Although primarily a winger and therefore not a like-for-like replacement, Carey has proven to be a versatile player throughout his career, playing across the midfield as well as at full-back and as a striker.

Although untested in English football above League Two, Carey played in the Scottish Premiership for St. Mirren between 2011 and 2013.