Terry Devlin to Wrexham issue emerges as Portsmouth eye £2m+ transfer | OneFootball

Acquiring Terry Devlin will be much pricier for Wrexham.

Wrexham may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets if they want to sign a highly regarded defender.

In the January transfer window, the club were reportedly on the verge of adding Terry Devlin to their ranks but ultimately could not get a deal over the line.

According to Portsmouth News, the £2m offer was not to their satisfaction. While the speculation is that the versatile Northern Ireland defender will be moving on this summer, the club is seeking a great financial return in exchange. It is understandable, given what we saw out of Devlin during the 2025-26 campaign.

Terry Devlin is coming off an outstanding season

There are many reasons Pompey will be pleased they hung onto Devlin through the previous campaign. John Mousinho’s men were hovering near the bottom of the Championship table for the majority of last season. It is thanks in large part to Devlin’s contributions that they maintained their place in the second tier.

Per FotMob, Devlin was second in the Championship for interceptions per 90 (1.9) as his defensive awareness rescued his side countless times. In addition to that, he was second on the team in defensive contributions per 90 (9.4), tackles per 90 (2.7), and clearances per 90 (4.4), according to FotMob.

The right-back was not only strong in his tackles but also had stellar composure both at the back and on the ball. He also showed himself to be a great transitional player from defence to attack and a tireless worker who rarely got pushed around. In addition to his defensive strengths, he also showed that he could contribute to the attack, scoring the Goal of the Season for his club in a 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic in February.

He may be more known for his defensive strength, but Devlin wound up second on the team in scoring with five goals during the most recent Championship campaign. Unsurprisingly, he was named the club’s Player of the Season.

You can make a strong argument that without Terry Devlin down the stretch of the season, Portsmouth might be focusing on League One football right now. Pompey fans will be sad if he goes, but the front office will be glad they kept him a little longer as it will surely pay off handsomely for them, more so than it would have this past winter.

Terry Devlin’s skillset was sorely missing at Wrexham last season

It would be unfair to put Wrexham’s failed promotional bid entirely on the wide players. That said, Phil Parkinson will surely know he needs to improve on the left on the right-hand side of the defence. The Red Dragons were far too easy to get through out wide, leaving the backline under tremendous duress. All season long, this team lacked defensive coverage on the wings, an area their opponents recognised and often exposed.

After Hull City, Wrexham boasted the worst defensive record in the Championship among sides that finished in the top half of the table, conceding 65 goals. As exciting as Issa Koboré was going forward, he was a defensive liability. There’s no denying the Manchester City loanee was a force in attack when healthy, but he had a lot of costly flaws as well. Among them was a struggle to win physical duels, while his overzealous play often saw Wrexham caught out in transition.

Devlin’s is a completely different profile from Kaboré's, but one that this club could desperately use. They need someone who has the stamina required at that position and isn’t as careless defensively. A player like Devlin will make life a lot easier for the likes of Dom Hyam and that backline.

Wrexham fans might not be happy losing a player as exciting as Kaboré should they part ways with him. At the same time, this is a business of results, and an addition like Devlin could be what Phil Parkinson needs to get this side of the top flight.

Portsmouth will be eyeing a heftier price to send Terry Devlin to Wrexham

Portsmouth know the worth of Terry Devlin, whose price tag has surely risen. It is believed that the club is preparing for life without him, but Wrexham must make its offer more enticing this summer. Given how valuable he was to them last season, Portsmouth will be looking for something much greater than £2m.

John Mousinho would surely like for Devlin to remain at the club, as he was far and away his best player last season. For his part, Devlin has reportedly not been pushing for an exit out of the club, but with Wrexham’s ambitions and a higher bid from them, that reality seems likely. Until then, it seems as though Devlin’s focus is on Portsmouth.

Pompey will anticipate the Red Dragons will return with a bigger bid for the man who is clearly their prized asset. Portsmouth know what he means to them, and we’ll soon find out just how badly Wrexham want him. Currently, Devlin is signed with Portsmouth until the summer of 2028 and the summer transfer window opens on June 15.

Wrexham will have to let their money do the talking.