By Russell Edge

16th Oct, 2020 | 1:22pm

Exclusive: Barnsley agree to sign Leicester City midfielder

Leicester City midfielder Matty James has agreed to join Barnsley on loan, Football Insider understands.

The 29-year-old does not feature in Brendan Rodgers’ plans moving forward and has been given the green light to leave after his fall down the Foxes pecking order.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that James is now set to complete a return to Oakwell ahead of Friday’s domestic transfer deadline after terms were agreed between the two clubs.

James spent the second half of the 2016/17 on loan with Barnsley and made a total of 18 appearances for the Tykes in the Championship.

The former Manchester United youngster, who joined Leicester from the Red Devils back in 2012, has played 117 times for the Foxes but most of his game time came during their spell in the Championship.

He has played just 15 times in the Premier League since promotion and has suffered with Achilles tendon issues which have limited his availability.

His last league outing came in a five-minute cameo against Manchester City back in February, although he was an unused substitute for the club’s final five games of last season.

James is now set to rejoin Barnsley as they look to add proven Championship quality to their squad before today’s 5pm deadline.

The Tykes are currently without a manager after Gerhard Struber left Oakwell to join MLS outfit New York Red Bulls over the international break.

The Yorkshire outfit currently sit 21st in the Championship table after one draw and three defeats in their opening four games of the new campaign.

In other Barnsley news, Football Insider broke the information about a late transfer deal at Oakwell.