Scottish Premiership clubs have plenty on their plates with lots to be decided between now and the end of the seasons.
But their recruitment teams will also be busy planning for the summer ahead and next season.
Hibs have already signed Jamie McGrath on a pre-contract from Aberdeen with the 29-year-old penning a four-year deal to swap Pittodrie for Easter Road.
And yesterday we looked at ten of the best Premiership stars available to other clubs on a pre-contract as they enter the final few months of their deals.
There are also a decent number of Scottish players down in England who are on expiring deals and might be worth a look for our clubs.
While some of the men on the initial list have since penned extensions, some can be snapped up for nothing this summer. Here is a look at some of the best.
Michael Rose
The Stoke City defender has been a reliable Championship centre-half for both the Potters and Coventry City after helping the Sky Blues up through the divisions. Came through at Aberdeen before leaving for Ayr United so could a return to Pittodrie, or elsewhere, be on the cards? Has played 21 Championship games this season but hasn’t been a regular starter.
Kal Naismith
Another Scottish centre half plying his trade in the English Championship is Kal Naismith, on loan at Luton from Bristol City. Hadn’t been getting much of a game at City and Not the Old Firm revealed Aberdeen were interested in Naismith in January. He opted for Luton at the time but that doesn’t rule anything out from happening in the future.
Callum Paterson
Former Hearts favourite Paterson has often been linked with a return to his boyhood club during his time at Sheffield Wednesday. Robbie Neilson tried to bring him back in January 2023 (Yorskhire Live) and it was thought the move could happen that summer, but he ended up signing an extension. Then, last summer it was claimed Paterson had been made available for transfer but he stayed to fight for his spot and has been starting games lately. You’d think the Jambos would hold an interest again if a free transfer is an option.
Barry Bannan
Bannan is a teammate of Paterson’s and remains the Owls’ captain. But he is now aged 35 and that is often the sort of age a return to Scotland appeals to plays.
“I feel fine about it,” Bannan recently told The Star. “My job is to play week-in, week-out for this club and to concentrate on the games. I’ve always found that when I’ve been in my last year before, if you go out and do the business out on the pitch then the likelihood is that you’ll get rewarded at the end of the season.
“If I get offered a new deal then I’ll sign it, if I don’t then I’m sure I’ll try to find something else.”
Grant Hanley
The Scotland centre-half left Norwich for Birmingham in January and has only been appearing as a substitute since moving to the Blues. Only signed a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Dean Campbell
The Aberdeen academy graduate, who also had a loan spell at Kilmarnock, has been appearing regularly in League Two for Barrow. Scored a dream FA Cup winner against Aston Villa while on loan at Stevenage from the Dons.
Steven Fletcher
Now 37, Fletcher may be considering retirement. He might also want another stab at the Championship should current club Wrexham secure a second successive promotion. But if he isn’t offered a new deal, another spell in the Premiership could be an option after previously turning out for Hibs and Dundee United. We’ve already been reminiscing about the time Fletcher was a target for Real Madrid.
Dylan McGeouch
The former Hibs man won their player of the year award ahead of John McGinn during their time at Easter Road but their careers took very different paths. The midfielder is now at Carlisle via Sunderland, Aberdeen and Forest Green but hasn’t played much due to injury. McGeouch recently rated Scott Allan up there with McGinn from their Hibees spell.
Jamie Walker
Walker is still with Bradford after moving to the Bantams from Hearts in 2022. Previously revealed to Football Scotland that he had interest from Carlisle before penning a new deal but is likely to be on the radar of clubs again.