Portsmouth have shut down links to Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale, as reported by The Portsmouth News.
The League One leaders were linked with a move for the forward by Football Insider earlier today. However, speaking to the News, that transfer interest was cleared up by Pompey chief Richard Hughes, who said that they were not looking at the forward. Hughes did say that they were looking at an attacking option, depending on the severity of Alex Robertson’s injury. A bid for Wigan’s Callum Laing was also reported by Football Insider and shut down by Portsmouth reporter Andrew Moon via Twitter.
Portsmouth were on a list of clubs in the EFL said to be monitoring the former Birmingham City youngster. That list included League One rivals such as Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United. One League Two outfit were also named, with Wrexham reportedly interested also.
Hale might have missed the beginning of the season in Northern Ireland after an injury pre-season, but that has not hindered the forward, who has scored 11 goals in nine games. The forward left Birmingham City in January 2019 and returned to his first club, Crusaders. The last two seasons in Northern Ireland have seen the versatile forward score over 40 goals.
During his time with the Blues under-21s, Hale scored a remarkable 28 goals in 23 games before being promoted to the under-23 team. The 25-year-old has displayed versatility in his run with Cliftonville, featuring as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder and playing on both sides of the wing.
Writer’s View
While many clubs would need a prolific goal-scoring forward like Hale, Wrexham and Portsmouth are the two least in need of his services, closely followed by Bolton. All three have prolific goalscorers like Paul Mullin, Dion Charles and Colby Bishop. Portsmouth shutting down the link would be a boost to those in pursuit of him. If I had to pick a destination, it would be Derby.