“We’d love to make it happen” – Portsmouth eye extended loan deal for Manchester City midfielder

Manchester City loanee Alex Robertson could return to recently promoted Portsmouth next season.

The 21-year-old returned to Fratton Park late last month to join Portsmouth’s promotion celebrations, after the club secured a return to the Sky Bet Championship after being crowned League One winners.

Robertson’s season-long loan at Pompey was dramatically cut short in January, when the Manchester City midfielder suffered a serious injury during a training session, sidelining the player for the remainder of the campaign.

Robertson made 23 league appearances before suffering an hamstring injury in the new year, and also featured in the Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy for Portsmouth.

The midfielder registered five direct goal involvements for the recently promoted side, and was thriving during his first English loan spell, after previously spending time at Ross County in Scotland.

The future of the 21-year-old following his recovery from injury is currently unknown, however Portsmouth have revealed a willingness to re-sign the player on loan, should Manchester City allow such a transfer.

Pompey manager John Mousinho told local outlet The News: “We’ve spoken to him and said if there’s a possibility at some point we can bring him back to the football club, we’d love to make it happen.

“We’ve got to go through that channel first, but from our relationship with Robbo and the fact he’s been back in the building over the past couple of weeks speaks volumes about him. It speaks volumes about the fact that he’s enjoyed his time here.

“Robbo will have a lot of options, but he knows what everything is about here. I’m not saying Robbo doesn’t want to come back, but he’s never going to say to a fan he’s not – especially when he’s in the away end at Bolton!

“I don’t know what Manchester City’s plans for him are, but they own the player and are the parent club.”

The Scotland-born player has been an unused substitute on four occasions for Pep Guardiola in the past, featuring in the Blues’ first-team squad on occasion across the Premier League, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League during the 2022/23 season.