Portsmouth were well off the pace of the League One play-off places last season under Danny Cowley.

It was the manager’s first campaign in charge at Fratton Park having previously been in charge of the likes of Huddersfield Town and Lincoln City.

It ended up being more of a transitional season for Pompey, who had a lot of turnover in the 43-year old’s first summer in control of the club.

But after a disappointing start to his tenure, the second half of the season showed a lot of promise for the Portsmouth faithful.

The gap to the top six was ultimately 10 points, with the club finishing 10th in the third division table.

But a lot of ground was lost in that poor start to the season.

A great defensive record was also a sign of good progress under Cowley.

Here are eight League One players Porstmouth could realistically target this summer transfer window… 

One aspect of Portsmouth’s campaign that held the team’s promotion chances back was their inability to score goals consistently.

The addition of a forward like May would significantly boost their chances of fighting at the top of the third division table.

The Cheltenham Town man scored 23 goals for the side that finished 15th last season.

If he could replicate that form at Fratton Park then Cowley’s men will surely be competing for a top six finish.

Stockton is another option up front from League One that could significantly boost Pompey’s promotion chances.

The Morecambe forward bagged 23 goals and three assists in the league this season for the side that finished 19th in the table.

The 28-year old should be competing higher up the English football pyramid and Portsmouth could be an ideal route for Stockton to do so.

It is likely that Cowley’s men would face stiff competition for his signing, but the club should do everything they can to compete for his arrival.

The Derby County winger had an electric start to life in Wayne Rooney’s side last season.

This was a breakthrough campaign for the 18-year old, as he made 16 appearances in the Championship and even bagged his first goal at senior level.

With Derby’s current financial turmoil, this could be an opportunistic move for Pompey if they decided to attempt this signing, but he could offer an exciting dynamic to Cowley’s side’s attack and would be a huge long-term asset.

The experienced forward could be an option for Portsmouth, with the 31-year old having come off the back of a great season with Ipswich Town.

His 23 league goals helped the Tractor Boys to 11th in the table for Kieran McKenna’s team.

A move to Portsmouth could be seen as a bit of a sideways step, but he would fill the goal scoring void so well that he could be considered as a new addition for the Fratton Park faithful to support.

The Welshman is out of contract following the conclusion of the season. His deal at Charlton Athletic has not been renewed.

However, a move to Portsmouth could add some high level experience to the team which could make Gunter a valuable dressing room leader.

The full back has played in the Premier League and the Championship so could bring a lot of that experience to the current squad, which could be of great use to Cowley.

He also still has plenty he can offer the starting lineup and would add some strength in depth to Pompey’s defence.

Wickham has departed his former club MK Dons following the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

The forward scored one goal for their League One rivals from only 13 appearances, 11 of which came from the bench.

While those numbers aren’t inspiring, the experienced 29-year old could still offer plenty to Portsmouth next season.

Cowley’s side will need more than just one proven goal scorer and Wickham could be a very solid option to have in the first team squad.

The Irishman could inject a level of dynamic, creative passing that could really help Portsmouth to the next level.

At 40-years old, age is seemingly just a number for the playmaker who has performed excellently in recent years with Cambridge United.

While he would not be a regular starter, Hoolahan could still be deployed often enough to still have a great impact on the side.

It would be a short-term solution but he could really help the team’s attacking options.

The Bristol Rovers player is available as a free agent this summer and could be a shrewd signing for Portsmouth to make. 

The versatile 25-year old scored an impressive 16 goals for Bristol Rovers last season as the team finished 3rd in League Two, earning automatic promotion to the third division.

Collins looks ready for the step up to League One and Portsmouth could be an ideal destination for him over the next 12 months.