Portsmouth winger Ronan Curtis is 'tailor-made' for Brentford, claims EFL pundit

Ronan Curtis would be 'tailor-made’ to join a Brentford side pushing for the Premier League.
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That is the verdict of EFL pundit George Elek, who believes the Pompey winger could remedy the Bees’ problem on the left flank.

Curtis was linked with a switch to Thomas Frank’s side last summer as a potential replacement for Said Benrahma before he joined West Ham.

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Brentford instead recruited Saman Ghoddos, although he’s struggled for form and scored just once in 20 appearances.

Curtis has once again been a key player during his third season at Pompey, netting eight times in 24 outings.

The Bees have recently been linked with QPR's Bright Osayi-Samuel and Barnsley’s Callum Styles.

But Elek, who regularly appears on Sky Sports and EFL on Quest, reckons Curtis should again be on Franks’ radar.

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Speaking on The Totally Football League Show podcast, he said: ‘I can see why Brentford want to bring a wide player in because even though they've been very good this season, there still is a Said Benrahma hole on the left-hand side of their attack.

Ronan Curtis, right, celebrates with Marcus Harness. Picture: Joe PeplerRonan Curtis, right, celebrates with Marcus Harness. Picture: Joe Pepler
Ronan Curtis, right, celebrates with Marcus Harness. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘Ghoddos hasn't necessarily impressed so far this season, Tariqe Fosu has been good in snatches and is a versatile player in some ways.

‘Bringing Callum Styles in, another player who at Barnsley is more of a wing-back than a winger, whether it necessarily fits in I'm not sure.

‘Bright Osayi-Samuel plays his best football on the right-hand side where Bryan Mbeumo comes in off the right, so I can see why Brentford fans might want to steal the crown jewels from down the road.

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‘Neither of those make sense for me. You want a player who plays on the left-hand side of a three and drifts inside to allow Rico Henry to overlap.

‘One isn't particularly original – Ronan Curtis at Pompey. The reason it's not too original is there were strong rumours in the summer when Benrahma was rumoured to be leaving.

‘I think he is tailor-made to the way this Brentford side play. Last season, it wouldn't have necessarily worked because they were very possession heavy.

'Curtis plays for a Pompey side that's very much happy to sit off the ball, which Brentford are now.

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‘They're happy to sit in their defensive third but still have an incredible counter-attacking style and have scored more goals than anyone else in League One.

‘Curtis is a goal threat, as we saw many times last season. He plays next door to a target man in similarish styles in John Marquis to Ivan Toney, so Toney would benefit.’

Since arriving from Derry in June 2018, Curtis has established himself as a potent League One attacker.

In total, he’s scored 34 goals in 118 appearances for Kenny Jackett's side.

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Last January, he was wanted by Blackburn and Reading before signing a new three-and-a-half year deal at Fratton Park.

And although Curtis recently told The News he’s not looking to depart this month, Elek believes the Irishman could make a seamless step to the Championship.

He added: ‘If you look at Tariqe Fosu last season, you'd say Curtis has done more at League One level even though Fosu had a very good six months (playing for Oxford before joining Brentford).

‘I personally believe the best the League One has to offer is good enough to play in a good Championship side – especially someone like Curtis who has every right to continue improving.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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