West Ham set to sell homegrown star to European club in £10m+ deal | OneFootball

Club Brugge are in advanced talks with West Ham over a £10m+ deal for midfielder Freddie Potts.

West Ham have already had a busy summer window as they look to adapt to life back in the Championship for the first time since 2012.

All connected to the club knew that departures were inevitable following relegation, and the financial hit that it brought. However, the huge fees generated for Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville have been seen as great business by many.

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It had been hoped that would kickstart some serious incomings for Nuno Espírito Santo, and fans will be worried about the depth in the squad ahead of the first game of the season at Burnley on August 16.

Freddie Potts expected to join Club Brugge in £10m+ transfer

But, there’s sure to be plenty of business taking place ahead of that fixture, and one surprising deal is seemingly in the pipeline involving the Hammers.

That’s after journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealed that the club are in ‘advanced talks’ with Club Brugge over a deal that would see Freddie Potts move to Belgium.

The 22-year-old local lad came through the academy at West Ham, and he has gone on to play over 30 times for the club, with the vast majority of those outings coming in the previous campaign.

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With Potts having also enjoyed productive loan spells earlier in his career, which included impressing in the Championship with Portsmouth, there was an expectation that he could have a big role to play moving forward.

Yet, the update explains how Club Brugge are on the lookout for midfield reinforcements after the sale of Raphael Onyedika to Frankfurt, and Potts is the ‘priority’.

Crucially, he adds that the player has already given the go-ahead to seal a move, and discussions are taking place over a deal that could be worth in excess of £10.2 million (€12 million).

West Ham must move quickly to strengthen their squad amid Freddie Potts development

Firstly, it’s always a shame to see an academy player leave before they have really had the chance to show what they can do.

Perhaps the only positive of relegation in the eyes of many fans, was that it would allow West Ham to start fresh, and that meant giving plenty of opportunities to younger lads, like Potts.

He is clearly a talented player, and the fact Brugge, who will be playing Champions League football this season, wants Potts, shows he is highly regarded in the game.

But, Nuno obviously doesn’t see him as a key member of the squad, and, if that’s the case, then this is a deal that would suit all parties, and the £10m, which will be pure profit for the club, will only increase the budget.

Nevertheless, it’s another player that will need replacing, and West Ham are low on numbers in the middle of the park, with at least a couple of new faces required before the deadline.

This was a big talking point among the West Ham fan base, and it's fair to say that these fans were not at all happy with the decision to allow Potts to move on.

But, there were contrasting opinions on this one, and this West Ham fan felt it was the right call from the club to cash in on Potts.

Meanwhile, this Irons supporter explained why it may have been a decision made with the long-term in mind.

There's likely going to be a mixed reaction to Potts' eventual departure when it's confirmed, given his links to the club since he was a child, but there is every chance he could develop better with regular football over in Belgium and come back to England in a few years time - perhaps with another club in the Premier League.