It was a tumultuous day in the history of West Ham United. The club’s acknowledgement of the takeover bid – for that is what it signified – by Amanda Staveley’s consortium by acquiring the Gold family shares burst into the limelight and overshadowed the team’s performance on the pitch in the last of their pre-season friendlies.
The permutations and repercussions will take some working out as the club looks in line for a three way tug of war in which potentially any of the trio could emerge with a majority share of the company that owns our football club.
And amidst it all, one of the clubs brightest young talents looks to have secured an exit, almost un-noticed thanks to the far more news worthy headlines.
Farewell Freddie: Potts heading to Belgium for a medical.
Freddie Potts, just last season making his debut and scooping a man of the match award, looks to be leaving the club he’s spent most of his life at and heading overseas for a £10 million fee, according to news report by the Telegraph this afternoon.
“Club Brugge have agreed a deal for Freddie Potts worth €12m for West Ham midfielder. Belgian sources expect him to miss #whufc pre-season game this weekend. Replacement for departing Raphael Onyedika“
Potts was on the team sheet but not on the bench as it was suggested he’d already left to travel for a medical.
You can’t keep ’em all but – after a very impressive debut, it seemed his FA Cup red card was pivotal in his Hammers career with Nuno less inclined to trust him after. If the £10 million fee enables Nuno to bring in Celtic’s Arne Engels as an upgrade then there’s eminent sense in the decision.
Good luck, Freddie P.
Probably the right move for Steve’s boy.
Frank Lampard’s time was up when his Dad received the push.
Might be time for big changes in the coaching staff very soon.
All eras come to an end.
Not sure selling future talent is good business
Good deal for Hammers all round . He is nowhere near good enough for Premiership so 10m now is excellent business as long as it is reinvested in team . Just another mundane middle of the road player picked on sentiment not real ability. He has had plenty of opportunities at Hammers and has not taken them . COYI
That is a bit harsh Billy but I would find it hard to disagree. Too many fans seem to get blinded by sentiment.
Didn’t he win player of the year whilst on loan in the championship 2 years ago? Surely he should be one of our most powerful assets this season.
This club is so dumb!
Reminiscent of the Josh Cullen situation, a West Ham fan having to leave the club he loved to make his career. Josh went to Anderlecht before making a permanent home at Burnley. Good luck Freddie it’s always sad to see a player who loves West Ham leaving
For me poor decision, Potts was a heart on sleeve player for West Ham and you need some of that sometimes. He also loved the club, but with Staveley coming in and decisions like this we will soon just have players playing for the money, a team with no soul and a club with no identity. For me we only have a slim chance of promotion to the Premiership at best this season.
£10m straight into the profit column.
I think it’s as straightforward as that, an accountant likely said we need figures in the profit column and Potts best fitted that bill.
Let’s not let sentiment get in the way here, he was an ‘ok’ player. But lacked something in my opinion. Probably would have did a job in the Championship but nothing more. Cash in and reinvest in the squad.
Hmmm, not pleased about this one. He’s one of those players that doesn’t quite fit the modern day template of uber athletic giant for a central midfielder. Because of that he is always likely to be overlooked in this country. I think he’ll do very well at club Brugge and I think we’re missing a trick with him. He has a very quick brain and moves the ball quickly and accurately. Yeah, not happy about this. Could and should have been a future captain.
Not unnoticed here, that’s for sure.😊
Made the comment last season that I thought he had gone into his shell, just my impression/theory. Or he was told to play DM and nothing else – I hope not, but possibly.
At Pompey he made assists and had shots at goal, a different role. Hope he really kicks on at Club Brugge and he becomes a more complete midfielder than he was at WHU where he seemed to be playing in a straitjacket. Perhaps he will feel the pressure is off and he’ll be able to be himself and it comes back to bite WHU in the butt (meant in fun).
Understand why he left WHU and this might be the right move for club & Potts. He needs to develop his game to become the footballer he can be and it might be easier for him to do this at Club Brugge.
Probably told by his Father to get out. West Ham is becoming toxic. Get out while you can.
only now ‘becoming’ toxic?…
Martin, that’s an absolutely shocking statement coming from a so called fan whose articles regularly stir up discord.
Multiple first team players in the same position – Kante, Magassa, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Potts. Feels like a financial decision, as this is pure profit, vs loss or break even on any of those others. Real shame, as he’s not notably better or worse than any of those, though has a great attitude and I hoped he might be the new Noble.