The arrival of Kusini Yengi last year, and his subsequent development as a valuable asset to the club, demonstrate that foreign recruitment is possible, according to the Pompey manager.
Pompey’s pre-season campaign began on Monday, with Irish teenager Sean Patton a surprise starter at Gosport.
Mousinho is scouting the Derry City striker after signing Northern Ireland midfielder Terry Devlin from Glentoran a year ago.
Following promotion to the Championship, FA rules have made it easier to attract international players.
Last summer, the limitations were reduced regarding signing players who do not fulfill the points requirements of the foreign visa system.
In League One, this means that two players may be recruited who do not meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria.
However, that ratio rises to four players for Premier League and Championship sides, giving Pompey more leeway to sign abroad talent alongside fellow promoted sides Oxford and Derby.
Mousinho said that there must be a balance between taking advantage of available opportunities and conducting due diligence.
He stated, “With our recruitment, we have no boundaries.”
‘The ease with which we can bring players into this country has increased marginally, making it easier to bring players in.
We definitely conducted some business in Australia last year. Obviously, there is Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“Terry (Devlin) is a direct hire, while Gavin (Whyte) excelled in Northern Ireland before moving to England years ago.”So I believe there are some excellent markets in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and throughout Europe.
“Europe has now opened up to us, but it’s perhaps little more difficult because all of our live scouts are situated in the UK, so viewing these players
Sometimes it’s more difficult.
‘Sometimes we take a deliberate approach, as we did with Kusini, who we’d never seen live but had seen enough of on video to tell us he was a guy we wanted to bring in.
‘So it’s just about finding the appropriate balance between the two, which can be challenging.’
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