Former Preston North End duo John Mousinho and Bailey Wright could now reunite at Portsmouth before the transfer deadline.
Portsmouth stunned many last week by deciding to appoint Mousinho as their new manager.
Mousinho was serving as a player-coach at Oxford United, but Pompey picked him to replace Danny Cowley.
That feels like a gamble but Mousinho heads to Fratton Park hoping to prove himself as a promising up-and-coming boss.
The Bizarre Rise & Fall Of The Chinese Super League
Mousinho arrives with the transfer deadline just a few days away and he may call upon his Preston North End history to strike a deal.
Sunderland Nation report that Portsmouth are leading the race to sign Sunderland defender Bailey Wright.
Aberdeen, Hibernian and Derby County have also been linked but Pompey are thought to be favourites.
Mousinho has even told The News that he thinks Wright is an ‘excellent player’ but couldn’t commit to a transfer going through.
Mousinho will be hoping that he can tempt Wright to the South Coast having played together at PNE.
Wright and Mousinho played together at North End during the 2012-13 season under Graham Westley and Simon Grayson.
Mousinho ended up spending most of the 2013-14 out on loan, but that time together at Deepdale is seemingly in the back of Mousinho’s mind.
Wright went on to become a regular at PNE before leaving for Bristol City in January 2017.
Wright joined Sunderland on loan in 2020 before turning the move permanent later that year.
The Australian defender, 30, isn’t exactly a key player for Sunderland and has started just six games this season.
That has given Portsmouth and Mousinho hope of a deal, with their history at PNE potentially bringing them together again some 10 years later.