Barnsley boss Simon Davey is hopeful of holding onto captain Brian Howard.

Everton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn are chasing Howard and Davey told Barnsley World: "Everybody is talking about him going here, there and everywhere and Brian is an ambitious player but we have not had any formal enquiries.

"I read things in the paper week in, week out he is going here and there and it is becoming laughable. Until a manager phones me and tells me he is offering x amount for Brian Howard we will not discuss it.

"You always want to keep your best players and to have a midfielder who has chipped in with 14 goals means I would be stupid if I said I wanted Brian to move on."