Despite West Ham‘s Premier League status remaining in question, it appears the club already has plans in place for the summer transfer window.
The future of the entire first-team squad relies heavily on what league the club is playing in next season. Relegation will no doubt force the club to sell the majority of its first-team stars, while there’s still speculation surrounding some players, even if the Hammers survive the drop, thanks to ongoing financial issues.
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Regardless of what division the club is in come August, there is a handful of players whose future at the club look almost certain to be coming to an end.
One of those players is Freddie Potts, whose stock within Nuno Espirito Santo’s midfield has taken a significant hit since the turn of the year.
Freddie Potts’ breakthrough season
Freddie Potts West Ham midfielder
Freddie Potts after his Premier League debut v. Chelsea.
The academy graduate made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Chelsea in August, when Graham Potter was still in charge at London Stadium.
Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Potter a month later and instantly took a liking to Potts, with the youngster starting 10 Premier League games between early November and early January.
But Potts has struggled to impress further. He’s been hooked at half-time twice since then, while his red card against Burton Albion in the FA Cup fourth round appeared to push him further away from Nuno’s midfield plans, making just three first-team appearances since the middle of February.
It has been something of a surprising fall from grace for Potts, who was being touted as the next best thing to come out of West Ham’s famous academy only a few months ago.
Indeed, there’s no way of knowing whether Potts’ future at the club is definitely under threat. There is clearly a talented player there, who has the potential to be a regular at the top level, but some are beginning to question his current ability as a Premier League player.
Potts’ West Ham future in question
Freddie Potts red card v Burton Albion
Freddie Potts is shown a straight red card v. Burton Albion.
The reality is, in the five games Potts has started in 2026, West Ham have won just once, and that was the 2-1 victory over QPR in the FA Cup.
He has failed to capitalise on the form that saw him establish himself as a regular Premier League start under Nuno earlier in the season.
It’s difficult to understand why that is and what’s caused it, but it’s hard to ignore the fact West Ham’s uptick in form has coincided with him not being in the starting XI.
That makes Football Insider‘s claims that Potts could be sold this summer if West Ham stay up more and more understandable.
However, if West Ham do succumb to the drop then perhaps Potts’ future at London Stadium can be salvaged.
Potts is proven in the Championship
Freddie Potts playing for Portsmouth
Freddie Potts playing for Portsmouth in the Championship.
The midfielder spent last season on loan at Portsmouth in the Championship and hugely impressed, making 37 league appearances and scoring one goal.
He made such an impression at Fratton Park that Pompey were hopeful of securing a second season of his services on loan, but both Potts and West Ham wanted him in the first-team this season.
His performances for Portsmouth in the second-tier, as well as his breakthrough in the Premier League this season, shows that there’s a player with significant ability to be utilised.
Whether that’s in the Premier League or in the Championship remains to be seen, but question marks will remain over his immediate future until the Hammers’ league status is confirmed.