Portsmouth are top of the League One standings and a lot of that is down to the work of Richard Hughes.
Hughes has played an influential role in helping assemble a squad capable of winning the league. John Mousinho and Hughes have worked well off of each other to bring in players that are able to get the club to the next level.
Mousinho joined the club in January 2023 but a lot of the work put in is who was signed last summer. It was the first summer transfer window under the manager and they brought in some of the best players in the division.
To help get the club over the line, they made signings in the January transfer window. Tom McIntyre arrived from league rivals Reading but suffered a serious injury on his debut. Since the window shut, Lee Evans has joined on a free transfer and it'll be interesting to see whether he remains should Pompey get over the line.
The job isn't done yet in terms of getting to the Championship but it's in sight. A draw with Derby County on Tuesday was a good result as it kept them five points clear of the Rams, and despite Bolton's win on Monday, there's still a big gap between Pompey and third place.
Hughes and Mousinho might have already been looking at transfer targets should they be promoted and the sooner they get back to the second tier, the sooner they can put the wheels in motion to plan for life in the Championship. A lot of Pompey's players have come from either playing in League One or the club have taken a gamble on those who haven't played much football but are highly rated at their Premier League or Champ clubs.
Could Scotland however provide some gems? The Scottish Premiership is getting better and better, and despite both Celtic and Rangers dominating it in what is a two-horse race, there are some players who deserve some credit. Here we take a look at players who are out of contract this summer in Scotland that could be of interest.

9. Connor Barron (Aberdeen)
Central midfielder with two assists and one goal this season. Played all of his career in Scotland for the Dons, as well as Brechin City and Kelty Hearts. TransferMarkt value - €600k | Getty Images

10. Kelle Roos (Aberdeen)
A goalkeeper that has spent a lot of his career in England. Played for Derby County, Rotherham United, Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle. Been with the Dons for two seasons. TransferMarkt value - €650k | Getty Images

11. Liam Kelly (Motherwell)
Goalkeeper with experience in England with QPR. Joined Motherwell on loan in 2021 and then penned a permanent deal. He's a one-time Scotland international. TransferMarkt value - €700k Photo: Julian Finney

12. Ryan Strain (St Mirren)
Arrived at St Mirren in 2022 after joining from Maccabi Haifa. Played for Adelaide United in Australia. Right-back who can also play right-wing. Photo: Fiona Goodall


