Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has told The News how Derby County and Blackburn Rovers target Ronan Curtis will not be leaving the club this summer.
The 25-year-old has been in superb form for Pompey this season.
Curtis has posted ten goals and seven assists in 35 League One starts, and his Portsmouth side will guarantee themselves a playoff spot with victory on the final day this Sunday.
His form for Pompey, however, hasn’t gone unnoticed. Championship sides Derby, Blackburn, Brentford and Reading have all been cited with an interest ahead of the summer.
When asked about the interest, Cowley claims his player 100% won’t be leaving.
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“His future is here, 100 per cent. He’s going nowhere. I love Ronan. How do you replace that amount of personality, character and his quality? We don’t want to lose any of our players – we’re Portsmouth Football Club! Why would players want to leave Portsmouth Football Club? If it was Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and maybe Manchester City, maybe Liverpool we’d have a conversation. But anyone else? No, why would you want to leave?” Cowley explained.
Derby have had a long-standing interest in Curtis. The News claimed the Rams were interested back in July last year, alongside Leeds United and Sheffield United.
The Republic of Ireland international has a bright future ahead of him, yet Pompey may face a struggle to hold onto him this summer should they fail to secure promotion.
Curtis’s contract at Fratton Park expires in 2023.
Derby, meanwhile, have a relegation showdown with Sheffield Wednesday this weekend and a drop into League One would surely end their chances of signing the Portsmouth winger.
The Rams have struggled for creativity and goals all season. Wayne Rooney must address Derby’s attack in the summer but staying up must be their only focus right now.
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