Mousinho hopeful Irish winger will agree fresh terms by end of month
Pompey hope to have Ronan Curtis’ future tied down by the end of the month.
But Blues boss John Mousinho admitted the winger’s injury rehabilitation will have to be factored into a new agreement.
Talks are ongoing between the club and Curtis’ representative, over extending the longest-serving senior player’s five-year stay at Pompey.
The 27-year-old is currently back in Ireland at the season’s close continuing his knee injury rehabilitation, but Mousinho is hopeful of a positive outcome over a talent he rates highly staying.
Mousinho said: ‘Talks are ongoing with Ronan. We wanted to focus on Ronan’s surgery and rehab over the back end of the season.
‘We had discussions with Ronan and said, from my point view, what I think of Ronan and there will be a contract offer on the table.
‘Then it’s down to the agent and football club to negotiate what that is.
‘So that’s ongoing and I think Ronan has gone back to Ireland to spend a bit of time with his family.
‘He’s there for a couple of weeks and that’s great, because he needs to be back there and his agent can take care of everything else.
‘So hopefully we have a bit of good news over the next couple of weeks with Ronan.’
Curtis is believed to have options beyond Pompey this summer, even as he recovers from an ACL injury picked up against Bolton in February.
His first choice, however, is to stay put at Fratton Park with the Republic of Ireland international settled in the area.
It seems common ground appears to hinge on agreeing a deal which suits all parties amid his injury fightback.
Mousinho added: ‘I’m sure it will (his injury will be factored into negotiations).
‘From my point, though, I’ve said to the club when Ronan comes back he can still be a terrific asset and he can contribute a huge amount.
‘Of course, the fact he won’t be back until December will form part of the conversation, absolutely.
‘In the structure we have, I now hand that over to (sporting director) Rich (Hughes) and everyone we have on the board.
‘Hopefully we can come to an agreement with Ronan and both sides are happy with what comes.’