The Scottish Championship is dubbed by some as "the best league in the world" in a testament to it's competitiveness.
Just two points separate Ayr United at the league's summit and Queen's Park in fourth with position's ever-changing. Even seventh placed Raith Rovers are still in with a shout of a promotion push as they lie five points off a play-off spot. And that's credit to some talented stars piling their trade in Scotland's second tier.
But with hot form comes speculation. Clubs a level up will be trying to land bargains wherever they can find them, with the winter window notoriously more difficult to land targets in than the summer months. Record Sport looks at which Championship men could be attracting interest when the transfer window opens in January, with teams fighting at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership looking to add reinforcements to their squad's in order to survive the drop.
Here’s five players who fall under that category.
Dipo Akinyemi - Ayr United
The man who is single handedly spearheading Ayr's title charge after netting 14 goals and providing four assists in his 16 appearances for the Honest Men to make him the league's top scorer. Akinyemi is a striker who at 25-years-old could be hitting the prime of his career and is surely going to attract suitors in the top-flight. His stats are an outstanding return at any level of football.
Ayr acquired him on a free transfer from English National League South side Welling United. And that is already looking like a rare find from boss Lee Bullen and his recruitment team. Bullen admitted that they were "extremely lucky to have him" after their 2-2 draw with Inverness on Saturday where he was influential once again and ensured his side remain Scottish Championship leaders.
Harry Milne - Partick Thistle
Milne is an exciting left-back who boasts two goals and an assist this season. He has become a fan favourite among Firhill punters. His work rate, pressing and crossing shows just why he was so well sought after prior to leaving Cove Rangers in the summer.
The 26-year-old could be a perfect signing for a club struggling defensively or lacking depth across the backline with Milne also able to fill in at centre-back. One of his secret attributes is his ability to take a menacing long throw-in which is often key when Partick are chasing a game and he tops the division when it comes to tackles won.
Dominic Thomas - Queen's Park
Celtic youth starlet Thomas has already spent part of his senior career with Kilmarnock in the top-flight. But now now finds himself at ambitious Queen's Park after impressing during a two year spell at Dunfermline as well as season a loan at Dumbarton in the third tier where he won Young Player of the Year award and was named in the PFA Scotland League One Team of the Year after scoring 14 times in 26 appearances for the Sons.
Thomas has took the step up to the Scottish Championship like a duck to water and has been one of the Spiders key players this season. He has registered three goals and five assists which includes a terrific double against Raith on Saturday. His set piece deliveries, dribbling and finishing are all things that have vastly improved in recent months.
The 26-year-old may think he's got what it takes for another crack at top-flight football. Whether that will be through earning promotion with Queen’s or if someone like Killie, who are fighting at the bottom end of the Premiership, will look to bring him back to Rugby Park remains to be seen.
Jaze Kabia - Morton
Kabia is a forward who is on-loan from Livingston in the top-flight and if he can build on the form he has shown in recent weeks Lions boss David Martindale might be tempted to bring the 22-year-old back to Almondvale in January.
Martindale recalled free-scoring striker Joel Nouble last season from Arbroath which ultimately laid a dent in the Smokies title push and with Morton having a season to remember so far, they will be desperate to keep a hold of Kabia. The Irishman has three goals and two assists so far this campaign but his off the ball movement and running also hasn't gone unnoticed. He may have not had a consistent run of starts but when he has been on the pitch he has shown why he is highly-rated and linked up superbly with Robbie Muirhead and Jai Quitongo up front.
Cameron Harper - Inverness CT
Scotland under-21 star Harper can play in defensive midfield and at left-back. He is one of the league's most effective passers. That's evidenced by the four assists he's managed this season. Four goals is a decent return as well.
The current injury crisis currently engulfing Billy Dodds' squad means the last thing he'll be looking to do is lose players when the transfer window opens. But when the bigger clubs circle, it's sometimes hard to prevent transfers happening and Harper's return in the first part of the season could prove tempting to those from a higher level who are seeking versatility and end product.
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