West Ham have confirmed to Claret & Hugh within the past hour their intentions regarding on-loan midfielder Freddie Potts.
Speculation that the club were considering a return is unfounded because the recall window elapsed on January 15th.
Rumours have circulated over the past 48 hours suggesting the club might consider recalling Potts, who has been in exceptional form during his loan spell at Portsmouth.
However, a top Hammers insider has informed us that the recall option has expired, meaning Potts will remain on the south coast.
“His [Potts’] option finished last week. The manager wanted him to progress where he is, with a review in the summer,” said the source at the London Stadium.
Speculation over a potential recall gained momentum following West Ham’s lacklustre performance against Crystal Palace last weekend. This was further fuelled by footage circulating on social media, showing Potts delivering a sumptuous long pass to set up a goal for Pompey.
It seems new Hammers boss Graham Potter has opted against recalling the midfielder, which is understandable given that he has just handed a debut to talented academy graduate Lewis Orford.
West Ham are understood to be keeping tabs on the transfer market with loan options in midfield remaining an option.
This isn’t the type of news we want ….
Gonzo – I’m confused by the recall window which you report expired on 15th January. Does this date depend on the terms of individual loan deals eg within first 3 months of loan beginning?
I don’t recall this being mentioned by C&H in previous articles especially on the Potts recall option, only that both clubs should agree. So interested to understand more on how this works as it has obvious implications for our other current loan deals? I realise all deals have confidentiality clauses so just in general terms.
Sounds like a good idea to leave Potts where he is. He must be riding on the crest of a wave at the moment, a regular and influential player in circumstances that are really helping him (settled team, settled environment). Good moments like that do not come around that often; best not to disrupt even though he is needed at whu. He’ll be a seasoned player by 2026 – unfortunate, but worth the wait all round I would have thought.
The return of the West Ham transfer window . Se we’re back to the scatter gun approach for underwhelming targets . Oh yes the yried we failed comments oh yes DS is back
JWP stats v what we have at the moment isn’t good reading. We could also do with his changing room and leadership too. Supporters of other clubs who we’ve played cant believe just how slow our midfield is. Potts as an Orford alternative with JWP, Soler and Paqueta would spruce things up
Regarding younger talent.
Man City have just signed 19 year old Vigor Reis from Brazilian club Palmeiras.
He is from Palmeiras Academy who have established themselves as producing hottest Brazilian talent.
Some of their talent have gone to Chelsea_(£29m) / Real Madrid_(£28.5m) / Nott Forest_(£16m) / Man City_(£29.6m).
Interestingly whu are also a club who have one of their candidates, £25m Luis Guilherme.
As previously expressed this lad, given time, could be a game changer, both on the field and bank balance.
Chelsea paid £107m for Enzo and he never scored for 8 months so need some thought before putting him on his bike.
Sounds like another good reason to keep Luis Guilherme and to develop him as a player, which is why he was bought initially. I never read anything at the time that said other than he was a player for the future. Would be great to know what is truly thought of him by whu coaches, as he is somewhere caught in between the Academy and 1st team. Now they have paid and given the lad+family their assurances, they should keep to their word and not derail his career. If he is not thought good enough, then find a club who are willing to bring him along (in France where technical players shine, for example). With buy-on clauses if that helps, don’t dump him to the highest bidder when he is not a fully fledged professional player.
Who asked for the recall exactly? Or where did the pressure for a recall come from?
Hi Saul, I didn’t write that we were pressing for a recall mate.
I said there were reports we were looking to recall him so I asked the club if it was true and they gave me an update.
Angel Gomes is a great option every time I have watched him he has been good for England. Contract expiring in the summer! We can get him very cheap now!
Loan options? What happen to the £57m? And if it was indeed a publicity stunt from Sullivan, as even the most optimistic of West Ham fans assumed, then why do it? Does the man never learn? I think that’s one question we all know the answer to.