Republic of Ireland's Ronan Curtis is of interest to a host of top Championships clubs, less than six months after leaving Derry City.
The player moved to Portsmouth for £100,000 during the summer, and has experienced a meteoric rise during his short time in England. He has taken League One by storm, registering six goals and five assists in 13 appearances this season.
Curtis' form was rewarded with a first call-up to Martin O'Neill's squad in September, and now some of the top contenders in the Championship have also taken notice.
According to a report on TEAMtalk, Frank Lampard's Derby County are amongst a host of sides to be considering a January move for the winger. Leeds United, Sheffield United, and Middlesbrough are also keeping a close eye on his progress, while Premier League sides Leicester City and Brighton may also enter the fold.
Those four Championship clubs would represent a massive step up for Curtis, with each of them currently occupying a place in the top six of the division. It is not mentioned what sort of transfer fee Portsmouth would request for his services, but you would have to assume they would make a massive profit on their relatively small investment.
🎥 | Ronan Curtis secures point in Kosovo with great strike! 🙌#IRLU21🇮🇪 striker @RonanCurtis1 finds the bottom corner to level the UEFA U21 European Championship qualifying game! 💪
Great finish! #COYBIG 👏 pic.twitter.com/McSqUwldBt— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 7, 2018
The interest from clubs with Premier League ambitions is a testament to the incredible upturn in form the former Derry City standout has experienced since his arrival in the South of England. Mainly operating from the left-wing, he has been an absolute nightmare for opposing defenders.
His finishing and creativity have acted as major boost to Pompey, who currently sit top of the division.
If this current run of form continues, he could be seen as a solution for an Ireland side that lacks goals. Martin O'Neill has shown a willingness to experiment with personnel in the final third recently, with the inexperienced duo of Callum Robinson and Aiden O'Brien starting the last UEFA Nations League game against Wales.
Yet to make his senior debut, Curtis may now be seen as a genuine option up front. Securing a move to a Championship contender will surely only strengthen his claim for a starting berth.
