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

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Ronan Curtis would be 'tailor-made’ to join a Brentford side pushing for the Premier League.

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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