Barnsley currently find themselves amidst a battle to secure a play-off place in League One, but they could be set to lose one of their key men as the January window comes calling.
His parent club, Tottenham Hotspur, have been keeping an eye on his spell at Oakwell and feels like Craig could develop better elsewhere.
What happened to give Tottenham this opinion and would it be beneficial for Matthew Craig to go elsewhere on loan for the second half of the season?
Craig Set to Leave?
According to Football Insider, Matthew Craig has received interest from several EFL clubs.
Due to this interest, Tottenham Hotspur, Craig’s parent club, is reportedly open to recalling Craig from his current home at Barnsley. Another contributing factor to the potential recall is the incredible lack of playing time for Craig.
Matthew Craig had enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Doncaster Rovers last season. With that in mind, Barnsley fans were surely excited when their club captured Craig on a season-long loan during the summer.
Craig had fifteen appearances in all competitions to start the season. Suddenly, the Scotland U21 international has received barely any playing time in recent weeks. Currently, Barnsley sits right outside the League One playoff places in eighth place.
Tottenham Hotspur obviously would prefer that Craig go elsewhere for the opportunity to regularly play.
Craig usually plays as a defensive midfielder, but he can play in other midfield options. As of now, the clubs interested are Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.
Would a Move Help Matthew Craig?
While Matthew Craig has done well in what playing time he has had, it is an interesting question to ask if a move to a higher league would help his development.
There have been players, like Morgan Rogers, who have done well in League One and go to the Championship and play quite well. The Championship is not for everyone, however.
With the likes of Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday monitoring the situation, it is a fascinating opportunity.
Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday are on opposite sides of the Championship table, so there are opportunities to develop in different ways at either club.
While the situation with Matthew Craig is still very much up in the air, if Tottenham Hotspur does decide to terminate Craig’s loan, there might well be a host of clubs in line for his signature.
Midfield is such a valuable position for many clubs to get right, and many clubs will view Craig as a potential improvement in their current situation.
With the January transfer window only weeks away, we could have an answer sooner rather than later.