Portsmouth braced for summer transfer departure of Fratton favourite as admirers eye ex-Wrexham £2m target
The Blues turned down a £2m bid for the Northern Ireland international during the January transfer window
Pompey are braced to lose Terry Devlin this summer.
The Blues firmly expect interest in the impressive right-back to ramp up following an eye-catching Championship season.
And it is understood they are already planning on life without the Northern Ireland international as they realistically accept they will no longer be able to retain his talents.
Pompey stood firm and rejected £2m interest from Wrexham late in the January transfer window - now his price tag will have increased considerably.
Pompey reluctant but realistic over right-back’s future
Ideally, John Mousinho would want to keep the popular 22-year-old, who blossomed after becoming a regular first-team starter in November, going on to win all 17 available end-of-season awards for 2025-26.
Yet there is an acceptance within the Fratton Park corridors, albeit reluctant, that Devlin will move on should a satisfactory offer be received, with Wrexham again anticipated to be suitors.
With the club having implemented a player trading model focused on recruiting young players and selling them on for profit, the right-back’s potential exit would be recognised as fulfilling that approach.
However, the February deadline-day sale of Callum Lang for £2.1m marked the policy’s first notable success, having signed the attacker for around £400,000 in January 2024 from Wigan.
Incidentally, Lang, who left on poor terms with many of a Pompey hierarchy unhappy with the attacker’s behaviour during negotiations, managed just five games with new-club Preston before a hamstring injury cut short his campaign.
Remained fully focused on the Blues
In contrast, it is understood Devlin has not agitated for a Fratton Park move, remaining fully focused on keeping the Blues in the Championship, despite that previously rejected Wrexham bid.
Regardless, the Irishman remains ambitious and, with his stock high, it is inevitable admirers will step forward, in particular a big-spending Wrexham side who narrowly failed to make the Championship play-offs.
Certainly Pompey anticipate the Red Dragons returning for their prized asset in the summer transfer window, which opens on June 15.
When asked about his Fratton Park after the final match against Birmingham earlier this month, Devlin told The News: ‘Speculation comes with football, doesn't it. For anyone who does decent and has a decent season, there is always speculation.
‘But, for me, it’s about switching off, resting and recovering over the summer, getting ready for next season.’
Yet Pompey remain in a strong position over potential transfer interest in the youngster, who signed a new three-and-a-half deal in February 2025, tying him to them until the summer of 2028.
Right-back alternatives at Pompey
In terms of right-back alternatives currently at Fratton Park, Zak Swanson, who is a free agent this summer, is in negotiations over a fresh deal.
While Jordan William’s three-year contract is scheduled to expire in the summer of 2027, with the former Barnsley man finishing the season as first-choice right-back, albeit influenced by injury to Devlin and Swanson.
Devlin has made 101 appearances and seven goals since arriving at Fratton Park from Glentoran in June 2023.