Portsmouth boss’s frank admission over Terry Devlin summer exit after £2m Wrexham bid
Some honest words from the Pompey boss over what he expects to unfold over Terry Devlin’s future in the upcoming transfer window.
John Mousinho admitted he expects it to be tough to retain Terry Devlin’s services with a summer chase for Pompey’s prized asset expected.
And the Blues boss promised he will be ‘extremely respectful’ of the Northern Ireland international’s wishes over his future, after his outstanding emergence this term.
What lies ahead for Devlin is certain to be one of the big transfer themes of the next window, following Wrexham’s £2m pursuit of the versatile operator in January.
The 22-year-old’s stock and market value has soared with player of the season plaudits already banked this term and more certain to follow.
Mousinsho expects there to be ‘serious competition’ for the man who arrived from Glentoran in the summer of 2023.
When asked if it will be hard to keep Devlin this summer, Mousinho said: ‘I think it probably will be, I’ll be surprised if we don’t have to ward off some interest in Terry.
‘He’s turned himself into an excellent Championship right-back.
‘Terry will obviously give credit outwardly and point at the development he’s had at the football club. Ultimately, though, he’s been a pleasure to develop and he’s been easy to work with.
‘He keeps his head down and works hard. Technically, his improvement has been astounding; physically, his improvement has been astounding. There is only one person in that equation who can make that happen - and that’s Terry.
‘I’ll be surprised if we’re not warding off some serious competition for him.’
The good news for Pompey is they look certain to bank a sizable fee for Devlin if and when he leaves, with the former Dungannon Swifts youngster signing a deal until the summer of 2028 last year.
That would mean a huge profit on the £70,000 paid to Glentoran to bring the huge fans’ favourite to Fratton Park, with an exit likely representing the biggest return on investment seen from playing trading under sporting director Rich Hughes.
Mousinho made it clear he’s not trying to push Devlin out of the door, but feels Pompey have been clear about the way they want to operate in such circumstances.
He added: ‘We have to look at that as a football club and ask: What are we trying achieve?
‘One of the things we’ve spoken about over the past couple of years is that player trading model.
‘What’s underpinned a lot of our early decisions is trying to buy those players and develop them.
‘We’ve done that to a certain extent and made a good amount of money off Callum Lang.
‘Terry you’d expect would be the first one where we’ve signed him for five figures and who knows what he’s worth now.
‘At some point we do have to take that leap and say this is a way we can sustain the spending at this football club.
‘If we sell Terry Devlin, can we then reinvest that in the next two, three or four players who can become the next Terry Devlin?
‘I’m not saying we’re going to sell Terry, but at some point as a club you look at it and say that may be something we have to consider. We’ll see how it progresses, but ultimately it’s not a bad thing to do as a football club.
‘I’d love to keep Terry at the football club and, if not, I’d be extremely respectful of what Terry deems the right move for him - if that comes about.
‘He’s already one of the better right-backs in the Championship and he’s going to improve again, again and again.’