Kevin De Bruyne exit from Man City ‘could have domino effect for Portsmouth’
Portsmouth could be indirectly affected by Kevin de Bruyne leaving Manchester City.
De Bruyne announced on Friday (4 April) he will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season after a decade and over 400 appearances.
Pep Guardiola’s side had the busiest January transfer window of all the elite-competing in the Premier League – nothing on the Portsmouth level of eight signings, of course – but will be seeking a replacement, if that is even possible, for the magical Belgian.
Portsmouth transfer dealing could be linked to De Bruyne
Obviously, there is no direct correlation between Pompey building their squad at Fratton Park and De Bruyne leaving City. He’s 33 now, he’s past his peak, but still unfortunately no chance.
What does open up, however, is a City pursuit of a new number 10 or playmaker, even despite De Bruyne only sporadically starting Premier League games of late for Guardiola.
Then the chain begins. City were on the verge of signing West Ham United’s Brazilian ace Lucas Paqueta for as much as £85million at one stage in 2023, but the ongoing spot-fixing allegations the 27-year-old denies have scuppered that.
Should Paqueta soon be cleared, a move to the Etihad could be back on as Guardiola remains an admirer. This could mean West Ham ensure they keep hold of as many central midfield players as possible.
The middle of the park is fluid under Graham Potter – deeper central midfielders often interchange with players of Paqueta’s type of position.
Into the equation comes Freddie Potts – like we say, a different style of player to Paqueta, but a capable midfield option for Potter next season, having recently signed a new long-term deal with his boyhood Hammers.
Potts could go some way to contributing should West Ham lose Paqueta, given the faith placed his way for a new deal recently and his excellent loan at Fratton Park.
Any midfield departure for a West Ham side now more cautious with their spending after last summer, and Potts may not be back on loan at Portsmouth next year as rumoured.
Potts could in fact return to Pompey in another Man City-West Ham scenario
An alternative situation which could this time benefit Portsmouth regarding Potts, is if Man City elect to look elsewhere for De Bruyne’s replacement than Paqueta.
James McAtee has impressed for City in the limited action he has been given, but at 22 will now be seeking regular football and remains on the periphery under Guardiola – something unlikely to budge.
| Freddie Potts | Appearances |
| Portsmouth | 31 |
West Ham have been linked with acquiring McAtee’s services (West Ham Zone, 7 January) given the failures of several of their summer signings in midfield in an underwhelming Premier League campaign.
Should Potter feel as if the Irons are bulked up enough in the centre of the park – also not least due to the revival of James Ward-Prowse’s career in East London – then Pompey could well be the beneficiaries and grab Potts for another year in the Championship.