Brentford eye swoop for Pompey star Curtis

BRENTFORD are eyeing Ronan Curtis as a potential replacement for Said Benrahma.

The Championship club fear they could lose the talented Algerian international should they fail to win promotion to the Premier League.

Presently they are third in the table, three points behind second-placed West Brom with three games remaining.

However, Benrahma’s 17 goals in 40 Championship appearances is sure to attract strong interest this summer.

The News understands Pompey’s Curtis is among those being considered by the Bees as a contingency plan.

The Republic of Ireland international was impressive during the 2019-20 campaign, finishing as runner-up in The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season.

His 14 goals established him as the Blues’ joint-top scorer alongside John Marquis, although none of the winger’s tally came from the penalty spot.

There was interest in his services from Blackburn and Reading during the January transfer window, yet he remained at Fratton Park.

Instead, Curtis committed himself to the club by signing a three-and-a-half year deal in February, taking him to the summer of 2023.

However, his reputation has continued to soar and he netted for Pompey in their play-off semi-final first leg at home to Oxford United.

In total, the left-sided

Curtis has scored 26 goals in 93 appearances since joining from Derry for an undisclosed fee in May 2018.

With Pompey facing another season in League One after their play-off defeat by Oxford, there’s sure to be added interest in the 24-year-old.

Curtis is not the only Pompey player attracting interest, with Crystal Palace keen on goalkeeper Alex Bass.

– NEIL ALLEN