Freddie Potts set to leave West Ham United as Portsmouth twist emerges
West Ham youngster Freddie Potts could make a loan move to a familiar location despite interest from Portsmouth, according to ExWHUEmployee.
The Hammers insider reported in The West Ham Way (21 August) that with 20-year-old midfielder Potts set to be loaned out for a second consecutive season, Portsmouth are a “strong contender” to sign him.
However, League One side Wycombe Wanderers, where Potts spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan, are reportedly keen to seal a reunion with Potts after he scored twice in 42 appearances last season.
Wycombe also took Irons academy forward Gideon Kodua on loan last season and withdrew an offer to bring him back to Adams Park, but are set to join Portsmouth and other clubs in the race to sign Potts instead.
Freddie Potts must make right choice on West Ham United loan
Since his December 2021 debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League, first-team appearances have been hard to come by for Potts, with his last coming in the 2022-23 Europa Conference League.
The Hammers have strengthened their midfield stocks so far this summer, with Guido Rodriguez arriving on a free transfer to replace the outgoing Flynn Downes, who joined Southampton permanently.
Further additions may follow in the form of Carlos Soler [Florian Plettenberg, 21 August], further clouding Potts’ path to the first team and making a loan move seem all the more inevitable.
George Earthy, who made a goal-scoring breakthrough to the first team in three appearances late last season, has already departed on a loan deal to Bristol City, where he’ll likely develop further.
Potts’ biggest question now boils down to the level he sees himself at; Portsmouth stormed to the title of a division in which Wycombe finished 10th, and it could well be time for Potts to take a similar step up.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have told one Brazilian club what they must pay to sign their 22-year-old defender permanently.
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