Swindon Town have been linked with a loan move for Barnsley midfielder Josh Benson until the end of the season.

A report from Alan Nixon on his Patreon said that Swindon were close to completing a deal for the 25-year-old who has only made 12 League One appearances in the last two seasons.

The Adver is aware that Town have been considering a move for the midfielder, whom Ian Holloway gave a start to in EFL football when he took him on loan at Grimsby Town, however, Town have been weighing up whether it was the right move with the current squad make-up.

Such a move could be pushed through as Swindon are waiting on the future of Joel Cotterill, who could still move back to Swansea City this month.

Benson has already played in each of England’s top four divisions during his career at Burnley, Grimsby, and Barnsley but has failed to establish himself at Oakwell following a permanent move for an undisclosed fee in 2021.

Holloway was asked about whether the deal was close ahead of Swindon making the trip up to Carlisle United this weekend but was coy over whether that was something he was going to make happen ahead of Monday’s deadline.

He said: “All I can say is that if you read into what I have already said then there might be things which are happening.

“I don’t like mentioning names from anywhere else, names should never be talked about right or wrong until anything happens.

“I would only ever talk about someone truly until they are in the building and the rest of it can stay out there.”

Swindon already have six players on loan at present, although Holloway did say that there remains the threat of losing Cotterill back to Swansea.

With the Swans’ poor form in the league and having just lost Matt Grimes, Luke Williams is considering the options with his squad and Holloway said that Swindon have a replacement lined up in the eventuality that he were recalled to The Swansea.com Stadium.

He said: “I have got something lined up in case something happens with one of our loans, one of them potentially could go back.

“Yes [Cotterill is travelling to Carlisle] unless I learn something different after this.

“The information I was given yesterday is that they might want him back, they have just sold Grimes and they are buying someone for next season.

“He has been doing well for us and they have seen him play, particularly Newport when I thought he was excellent.

“It is a wonderful situation to be in because I have got a boy who I really like and I love his attitude, you saw what it meant to him with the goal the other day when he jumped on Harry [Smith].

“I don’t know [what will happen] and he doesn’t know, so we will have to wait and see because I have a say in everything we do, whereas Luke is a head coach and has to see what happens.”