‘Bigger clubs after him’: Major summer Portsmouth target soars ahead of Norwich City meeting
Pompey pushed to bring in the Danish midfielder from Silkeborg, but it was their Championship rivals who won the race for the rising star’s signature.
He was the one who got away, a major Pompey target who proved beyond the club’s financial grasp.
Now the Blues are set to see what they missed at close quarters, as they lock horns with Norwich City on their return to Championship action next week.
Norwich team-mate on Mattsson: ‘Can play at even higher level, soon’
It appears the football operation may rue the Canaries swooping in for Pelle Mattsson and taking him to Carrow Road, in a deal worth £3m last August.
That figure underlines the reality Pompey were never that close to bringing in the Danish age-group international, with it essentially amounting to their entire summer budget for fees.
Mattsson took some time to settle into his new surroundings in the Championship, but has now emerged as one of the stars of the season for Philippe Clement’s side.
And that has led to plenty of people waxing lyrical about the 24-year-old’s potential - and the levels he can soar to in the game.
Mattson’s Danish Norwich team-mate Emiliano Marcondes sees a player potentially headed for the top, after his winning goal against Charlton Athletic last time out.
He told the Eastern Daily Press: ‘He wins an insane amount of balls for us, and he runs all over the pitch and closes down spaces.
‘He's a really smart player. Now I have to be careful what I say, but I do believe he can play at an even higher level, soon. I already think there must be other clubs that could be after him. At least that's what I think myself when I see him play.
‘There could be bigger clubs after him. He's absolutely brilliant – personally and on the pitch – and you can really feel it when he's not playing.
‘If he hadn't been injured he could well be involved with the national team. He has both Swedish and Danish citizenship, and I could easily see him playing for one of those teams.’
Norwich boss: ‘I hope we don't lose him along the way’
Norwich boss Clement added his thoughts on Mattsson and outlined his hopes he can keep him at his club.
He said: ‘He's got a lot of potential. A lot because he has both, he has technical qualities and physical qualities. The third point, he's also an intelligent lad, so I think he will have a really big future.
‘I hope we, as a club, grow fast enough that we don't lose him along the way and he just follows the road that we want to go.’
Meanwhile, Norwich fans are waxing lyrical about their player on social media.
‘My favourite Norwich City player. In my opinion our best player. Pelle Mattsson - fabulous’, said @OpinionFest.
‘That guy has so much desire; he’ll be taking & heading in his own corners next,’ added @ncfcmustard.