Johnson is currently in charge at Oldham Athletic, whom he has guided to ninth place in the League One table.
Barnsley, who sacked Danny Wilson earlier this month, are currently languishing in 16th position.
The Tykes are expected to appoint Johnson before the end of the week, according to Sky Sports News.
His first game at the helm could be away to Gillingham in the league on Saturday.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Wycombe WanderersWycombe | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 29 |
| 2 | Birmingham CityBirmingham | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 29 |
| 3 | Wrexham | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Mansfield TownMansfield | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 24 |
| 5 | Lincoln CityLincoln | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 24 |
| 6 | Bolton WanderersBolton | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 23 |
| 7 | Huddersfield TownHuddersfield | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 22 |
| 8 | Barnsley | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 22 |
| 9 | Reading | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 22 |
| 10 | Stockport CountyStockport | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 21 |
| 11 | Exeter CityExeter | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 19 |
| 12 | Charlton AthleticCharlton | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 19 |
| 13 | Peterborough UnitedPeterborough | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 26 | -1 | 18 |
| 14 | Rotherham UnitedRotherham | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 16 | -2 | 17 |
| 15 | Stevenage | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 17 |
| 16 | Blackpool | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 25 | -4 | 16 |
| 17 | Bristol Rovers | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 16 |
| 18 | Northampton TownNorthampton | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 20 | -3 | 15 |
| 19 | Wigan AthleticWigan | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 14 |
| 20 | Leyton Orient | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 11 |
| 21 | Crawley TownCrawley | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 25 | -13 | 11 |
| 22 | Cambridge UnitedCambridge | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 10 |
| 23 | Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 8 |
| 24 | Burton Albion | 13 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 5 |
| > League One Full Table | |||||||||
