James Ward-Prowse could directly affect Portsmouth hopes for midfielder deal
Portsmouth could have James Ward-Prowse to thank in the summer over their transfer recruitment in what would certainly be an ironic turn of events.
The former Farlington local – notorious around the blue area of Hampshire for his academy allegiance to Southampton and subsequent 410 games for Pompey’s bitter rivals – recently returned to West Ham United.
He had been on a loan spell with Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest from the London Stadium, but failed to sustain a regular run of action and was recalled by Graham Potter when he took charge.
Ward-Prowse could affect Portsmouth talks over Potts
While it is next to impossible Ward-Prowse and Portsmouth could ever reunite for the first time since his youth on the Fratton End, the midfielder could turn out to benefit the Blues.
Ward-Prowse, 30, has been a regular back in the West Ham side under Potter having been surplus to requirements under Julen Lopetegui, and consequently shoved to Forest last summer.
The 11-cap England man struggled in a team under Nuno Espirito Santo who have set the Premier League alight this term, destined for the Champions League, and has found his feet again with the Hammers.
Where Pompey come into this is their loan deal with West Ham for Freddie Potts. The homegrown East End boy – whose brother Dan also represented the Blues once upon a time – has excelled in the Championship, delivering several golden displays for John Mousinho.
Potts, 21, is certainly a player Portsmouth could look to take on another loan or even a permanent deal if the funds are available in the summer, though it could be ambitious.
Pompey had gone down a similar road with Alex Robertson last season on loan from Manchester City, who ended up at Cardiff City after turning down a switch back to Fratton Park.
But Ward-Prowse’s reignited West Ham career could lessen the Irons’ need for Potts, shunting him further down their prospective pecking order for next season.
Mousinho and Hughes aim for stronger squad next season
Portsmouth are not out of the woods yet in terms of survival, but should be able to complete their task of remaining in the Championship.
It would represent a breakthrough – hopefully, at least – of establishment in the second tier which can loosen the purse-strings in terms of bringing new talent to Fratton Park.
Rich Hughes will be aiming to shop in a higher calibre of market, with Pompey going from having one of the largest League One budgets to being utterly dwarfed in the Championship by parachute-paid giants like Leeds United and Sheffield United.
Even sides without that benefit, but are still battling for promotion, can offer loan-to-buy deals for top players on the basis they get promoted and therefore have the Premier League funds to complete high-end purchases. Sunderland have done it with loan midfielder Enzo Le Fee, for whom they must pay Roma up to £23million should they win promotion via the play-offs.
| Portsmouth 2024-25 | Apps | Goals | Assists | Sofascore avg. rating |
| Freddie Potts | 30 | 1 | 4 | 7.01 |
Mousinho has performed well with one hand tied behind his back, and Hughes deserves credit for the Championship experience he has brought in relative to what they have spent.
Young players, like Potts, have been brought in as something of a gamble – but the Hammers man is certainly a success story on the whole and Pompey could really do with him next season. If Ward-Prowse’s presence at West Ham helps deliver that, consider it a backhanded thanks to the Pompey fans.