According to FTBL, Alex Robertson of Manchester City is being pursued by a number of Premier League and Championship teams, including Portsmouth and Everton.
The 21-year-old midfielder was on loan at Pompey for the 2023–2024 season, when he played a key role in leading the team to the League One championship and promotion to the Championship.
Nevertheless, he only played in the first half of the season due to a hamstring injury he sustained during a workout shortly after the new year, which prevented him from playing for the rest of the campaign.
Nonetheless, clubs throughout English football have not forgotten the Australian’s outstanding stint with Portsmouth, and he could be ready to move at the beginning of the 2024–2025 season be prepared to leave the Premier League winners this summer.
FTBL, an Australian news outlet, reports that many more unidentified Championship and Premier League clubs are interested in signing Robertson this summer, including Portsmouth and Everton.
According to them, the young player’s destiny will probably be decided in the upcoming weeks, and a permanent departure from Manchester City seems like the most likely course of action.
Assistant coach Rene Muelensteen of the Australian national team is reported as saying, “We’re blessed with some top midfield talent and in Alex’s case he’s probably best suited in an advanced role,” in an FTBL interview.
“He has a lot of football ahead of him and was excellent at Portsmouth prior to his injury.” We’re excited to see his progress in the upcoming season; a strong start is crucial. Regardless of whether that in Portsmouth or somewhere else, and we’re obviously constantly keeping a careful eye on things.
“It takes exceptional qualities to train alongside the first team for several years and occasionally be called up to the bench at Manchester City.”
Robertson made his debut for the Citizens’ academy during the 2019–20 campaign. He soon established himself as one of the more promising young players in English football, and he was included in The Guardian’s 2020 ‘Next Generation’ list of the top 60 young players in the globe.
Robertson received his first taste of senior football in the 2021/22 season after continuing to show promise in City’s youth, when he went on a brief loan to Scottish Premiership team Ross County.
However, he left after just five games played with no goals or assists to Manchester in order to further his young football development. The decision was made to send the former England youth international back out on loan, this time to Pompey, at the beginning of the previous campaign.
Premier League teams like Everton are reportedly interested in Robertson this summer, as reported by FTBL. This might be a serious setback for Portsmouth’s hopes of keeping their loan star.
Although Pompey supporters would be disappointed to see the Australian international move up to the first team, they shouldn’t give up hope that they may one day see him don the renowned blue shirt.
Even if Robertson does sign for a premier league team like the Toffees, it is more likely that he will not open the season as a starter; instead, a supporting role would be the more reasonable expectation.
Thus, it’s likely that the goal would be to get his signature before giving him another loan must make sure he maintains playing regular football and develops on his strong performance from the previous season. Therefore, Portsmouth need to be first in line to sign him back for another season and calling whatever Premier League team’s phone is off in such situation.