John Mousinho had hoped to sign Freddie Potts permanently.placeholder image
John Mousinho had hoped to sign Freddie Potts permanently. | Getty Images
Graham Potter is planning on giving youth a chance in his West Ham side next season.
West Ham have dealt Championship duo Portsmouth and Bristol City fresh transfer blows as promises to use Freddie Potts and George Earthy in the first team this season appear to be true.
The midfield duo spent last season on loan in the second tier, Potts at Fratton Park and Earthy at Ashton Gate. Both of those short term spells were fruitful with the Hammers youngsters winning over supporters at the clubs.
It had been claimed that West Ham manager Graham Potter would use both in his first team plans next season as he looks to add youth to his squad. The Standard now confirms that is the case.
West Ham plans for Earthy and Potts
Potts and Earthy are set for ‘regular first team minutes’ and have travelled with the team to Germany for a week-long training camp. Both were also set to be involved in the Premier League Summer Series in the USA in July, but an injury to Earthy may halt him being fast tracked into the first team.
Freddie Potts signed a new contract deal with West Ham in March, making a temporary return to London to put pen to paper as he continued his loan spell at Fratton Park. Speaking about the player at the end of March, Potter said: “Freddie has had a couple of really good loans, successful loans, which I think is important for a player, at Wycombe and now at Portsmouth. It’s really important to have that accumulation of games, those minutes.
“We do a great job in terms of the Academy and development and have a good programme internally, but sometimes you need to go out and play as well and he’s done that and he’s had the benefit of that. So we’re looking forward to him finishing the season off strong and then coming back and being part of our group in pre-season.”
Portsmouth and Bristol City hopes for permanent Hammers transfers
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho had appeared confident that the star could return to Fratton Park. Speaking to The News, when asked if Portsmouth could sign Potts again, Mousinho said: “I think so. Hopefully we’ve shown over the past couple of seasons to clubs higher up the pyramid that we’re a good club to loan players to.
“There are some loans which have worked out and some that haven’t, but any player who comes in if they are good enough to play will play. Age isn’t a thing that we’re particularly concerned about, Freddie is a prime example of that - Abu and Robbo were last year. We want good players in who can play at the level - and Freddie is certainly one of them.”
Meanwhile at Bristol City, former manager Liam Manning had also hinted at a desire to bring Earthy back on a permanent deal when asked last season. He said: “George has been outstanding for us. It speaks volumes about his character, his attitude, and how he is as a person.”
When asked directly about the transfer, Manning said: “We’ll see in the summer.”
In other news, Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace set to lose £25m Premier League transfer race.