Barnsley have confirmed their interest in bringing Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge to the club on loan.
The Tykes are currently in talks with both Tonge, 28, and Stoke about a possible loan deal until the end of the season.
Barnsley manager Keith Hill is in the hunt for midfield reinforcements as skipper Jacob Butterfield was ruled out for the rest of the season last month with knee ligament damage, with Danny Drinkwater, on loan from Manchester United since August, signing a permanent deal with Leicester.
Manchester-born Tonge, who made a name for himself at Sheffield United, has struggled to hold down a regular place in Tony Pulis' starting line-up since completing a £2million switch from Bramall Lane in September 2008.