Stockport County are gearing up for another season of League One football after coming up short in their promotion push last time around.
The Hatters enjoyed a fantastic first campaign back in the third tier, finishing 3rd, but they were undone by Leyton Orient in the play-offs.
Nonetheless, the heartbreak has been left in the past at Dave Challinor’s side now have their sights set on going one better next year. New signings will help them do so, and it is claimed that a left-field option on their radar is Finnish centre-back Arttu Hoskonen.
Reports from his native Finland have said that Stockport County are leading the race for his signature.
MTV Uutiset state that the Hatters are favourites to land the 28-year-old on a free transfer after he was let go by Polish side Cracovia at the end of the campaign. Hoskonen is not short of options though, as he has received offers to stay in Poland or move to Turkey and Georgia amongst others.
At this moment in time though, County lead the race as they look to convince him of their ambitions of making it to the Championship next season.
Who is Arttu Hoskonen?
Hoskonen is certainly a link out of left field given that Stockport County mainly recruit domestically, but he could prove to be an intriguing free transfer addition for the Hatters.
After starting his career in Finland with FC Inter, Hoskonen joined HJK Helsinki on a free transfer. He could remain there for only a year before moving to Poland with Cracovia.
Two-and-a-half years on their books yielded 50 appearances for the right-sided centre-back.
Hoskonen is a Finland regular having played 19 times for his country since debuting in 2022. Along the way, he has scored once.
Stockport County centre-back options
Stockport County could certainly do with reinforcements at the heart of defence after a significant player turnover in that area.
Ethan Pye is the only natural central defender on the books from last season, though Joseph Olowu has been signed from Doncaster Rovers. The versatile Callum Connolly can cover in defence, but depth there is extremely limited.
Hoskonen would provide both depth and pedigree for Challinor having lost the likes of Fraser Horsfall, Sam Hughes and more. But, whether he favours a move to England over opportunities on the continent remains to be seen.
Discussion about this post