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Portsmouth hopes of bringing Freddie Potts back to Fratton Park on a permanent deal have been delivered a blow.
Graham Potter plans to give young midfielder Freddie Potts the chance to impress at West Ham this summer following an impressive loan spell at Portsmouth in the Championship.
The 21-year-old has been a key player for John Mousinho on the south coast this season and it was reported by ExWHUEmployee last week that Potts had signed a new long-term deal with West Ham. Pompey may have still held out hope for a permanent transfer or, failing that, a second loan campaign but that appears to be unlikely.
Claret and Hugh claims to have spoken to a ‘senior source’ at the London Stadium, who said: “He’ll be assessed in pre-season. He needs to improve for our team, but he has a real chance. He’ll be back with the group for the start of pre-season. Such a pity we’re not in Europe—it helped the youngsters get games and it was fabulous for all supporters.”
Graham Potter wants younger West Ham outfit
Potter is known to be wanting to build a younger West Ham team this summer. In his first press conference when appointed in January, the ex Chelsea and Brighton boss was quick to point to youth as the way forward. He said: "The West Ham Academy is central to the club. The FA Youth Cup success in recent years suggests there are good players in the group. We also understand that supporters need to see youth players in the team. When looking at positions, we will always try to see if we can find solutions internally.”
Potts has made 29 appearances in the Championship this season but had been struggling with an injury niggle in February. It’s been a hugely successful loan spell for the player, who opened up about the experience to the West Ham club website recently and appeared to confirm his desire to impact the Hammers first team.
He said: “I want to be a West Ham player. I want to start in the West Ham first team - that’s always been the dream of mine. However it happens that’s the mission I want to try and achieve.
“Yeah, the Portsmouth fans, they're incredible. There's not many stadiums that can sort of generate the same atmosphere as it can at Fratton Park when it's full. ‘It gives you that sort of adrenaline rush that you sort of want before a game.
“When you're lining up to play, you can really feel the adrenaline get to you and you want the whistle to blow and to get going. Once you feel the energy, you know, you can feel it as a player and you want to win.
Potts ‘really proud’ of Portsmouth loan
“I knew that before I joined Portsmouth. I knew the fans was a massive factor of why I wanted to come here. I played against Portsmouth last year at Wycombe and when I've come here, I've always said that this has been the toughest place to play, especially when the fans are behind the team and the players are playing with the intensity of the crowd.
“These are the environments that you want to be playing in. It's just been so good for my development and my progress so far. I'm really proud of it so far.”
Potts has worked his way up through the West Ham academy since 2009 and picked up a Europa Conference League winners medal with the side in 2023. He spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, winning Player of the Season with the side.
In other news, West Ham are waiting on one condition to snatch a bargain Championship transfer.