Barnsley are looking to strengthen their attack options this summer after being linked to Mansfield's CJ Hamilton.

Confirmed exclusively to Football League World, a source close the East Midlands club revealed Barnsley's interest in the player.

The 24-year-old has had a great season playing for the Stags, finishing as the second top scorer for the club, chipping in 14 goals with six assists. He was an instrumental figure in a side that narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to League One.

The winger has played an impressive 55 games this season and with only one year left on his contract at Field Mill, there is no surprise that Barnsley are interested.

Mansfield are not in a position to not cash in on him while they can, and will be doing all they can to get as much cash as possible.

But will Hamilton be able to handle the stress of the Championship? It's a big step up for the player who has never played at a higher level than League Two.

We give two cons and two pros for Barnsley fans ahead of this potential signing.

Pros

1. Big clubs have wanted him

Barnsley are not the first club to have reported interest in the Mansfield winger. In just January, some of the biggest clubs in the Football League were chasing him.

In January, Chad reported that Villa were prepared to make a bid for him and had sent scouts to watch him play. The report also suggested that West Brom and Preston were interested.

Thankfully for Barnsley, Villa are likely to have their eyes on bigger targets now, after securing promotion to the Premier League; time will tell whether there is any truth in the West Brom and Preston rumours.

Either way, it bodes well for Barnsley that they are in for a player who has generated a lot of admirers.

2. He's got a point to prove

While CJ Hamilton has never played a Championship level, he was on the books at Sheffield United until 2016.

After never appearing for the Blades, he will be determined to show his class at this level and stay there. If Hamilton does get to the Championship, his passage would have been from spells in the non-league at Halifax and Gateshead, before playing over 100 games in mid-table of League Two.

If CJ Hamilton does return to that standard, then he will appreciate it more after a having to properly earn it.

Cons

1. Unproven at this level

As mentioned previously, the highest division he's played in is League Two.

While the transaction between League Two and League One can often be easily adjustable, the step between League One and Championship can be unforgiving.

Leapfrogging a division can be risky, and Barnsley won't truly know until he's playing thrown in the deep-end as to whether he will be able to handle it or not.

2. Make or break time

While still improving, Hamilton is at an age where he is approaching the peak of his powers for the position and style of his play.

The quick winger is only 24, but is a player that relies on his pace as one of his main assets, therefore Barnsley could be signing a player at exactly the right time.

But with that comes pressure; this could be Hamilton's big break - whether he can channel that pressure to make him a better is yet to be seen.