'I love Portsmouth and I love the fans': £2m Wrexham target Terry Devlin addresses his Fratton Park future
The Northern Ireland international has totalled 89 games and seven goals since joining the Blues in June 2023
Man-of-the-moment Terry Devlin shrugged off Wrexham transfer window interest and insisted: I love it at Pompey.
The Northern Ireland international is enjoying an outstanding Fratton Park season, culminating with two goals in Tuesday night’s 3-1 triumph at Charlton.
Since being handed his first Championship start of the campaign on November 5, the 22-year-old has been one of John Mousinho’s most outstanding performers, elevating him into a genuine player-of-the-season candidate.
That form caught the eye of Wrexham, who made an approach for Devlin late in the January window, with a reported bid of £2m for the talented right-back, which was rejected.
Devlin claims he was made aware of the interest through social media, but is adamant he’s been unaffected by the links - and Pompey firmly remains his focus.
‘I absolutely love it here’
He told The News: ‘There's nothing I can really do about that (the links), there are people in place to deal with that, it’s nothing to do with me really.
‘My full focus is on Pompey and finishing the season strongly. You obviously see things (about transfer links), but my full focus is on Pompey.
‘That’s all I was thinking about, the next game, West Brom and getting ready for the Ipswich game, which was called off. I was fully focused on all of those games and I was ready to go.
‘I am contracted here, so all I can say at the minute is I’m a Pompey player. I absolutely love it here, I love the team, I love the lads, the coaching staff, the fans, the club.
‘I love everything about being here. That shows with my performances, I love battling for the badge - and I think the fans can see that.’
Contracted until the summer of 2028
Devlin signed a new three-and-a-half deal 12 months ago, tying him to Fratton Park until the summer of 2028.
At that point, he was only 20 months into a three-year contract, reflecting how highly the former Glentoran man is viewed by Pompey.
Since November, he has started 18 of the Blues’ last 19 matches at right-back to establish himself as a first-team regular. His sole absence during that period was due to serving a one-match ban following a red card at Sheffield United.
To date, after arriving from the NIFL Premiership as a teenager in June 2023, Devlin has totalled 89 games and seven goals for the Blues.
His stock is continuing to soar and it will be intriguing to see whether big-spending Wrexham return in the summer, particularly should the seventh-placed side fail to reach the Premier League.
However, there are no distractions for Devlin, whose eyes are fixed on ensuring Pompey remain in the Championship - with Saturday’s trip to high-flying Millwall next in his sights.
‘It’s nothing to do with me’
He added: ‘From what I saw (online) there was Wrexham interest, I don't know, but there are people in place to deal with that and it’s nothing to do with me.
‘My full focus is on finishing the season strongly and helping us climb the Championship table.’
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