Mohamadou Kante is already following in the footsteps of Freddie Potts by establishing himself as the growling, prowling midfield general at the heart West Ham United’s Under-21 side.
But how closely will his own path emulate that of the 22-year-old now firmly established as a first-team player under Nuno Espirito Santo?
Clearly, while it was Nuno who handed Freddie Potts a belated first Premier League start, Mohamadou Kante has also caught the eye of the West Ham United boss.
Nuno called Kante into first-team training at Rush Green last week. And while he would not be included in the squad for Saturday’s 3-2 win over Burnley, unlike teenage centre-half Airidas Golambeckis, the Frenchman capped a dream week on Friday evening.
A piledriver of a finish with his supposedly weaker foot. To quote Hammers Under-21 interim coach Greg Lincoln, Kante scored a goal to ‘light up any stadium’ as Liverpool’s reserves suffered the same fate as their seniors two days later.
A 3-0 drubbing on the road for the Reds.
In truth, the £500,000 signing from Paris FC has looked a cut above most at youth-team level throughout the campaign. So with reports suggesting that Championship clubs are already queuing up to sign Kante on loan during the January transfer window, Loans and Pathways Manager Carlton Cole may be about to earn his wages yet again.
West Ham United fans suggest Portsmouth loan for Mohamadou Kante
Cole watched Potts shine at Portsmouth during a temporary stint in 2024/25. And there are many West Ham supporters who would happily entrust Pompey with the development of another rising midfield star.
Cole, in his role as Loans and Pathways Manager, is often tasked with finding a club best suited to helping a young player realise his potential.
Potts, Pompey’s Young Player of the Year, was one of a number of success stories last season. George Earthy won the award at Bristol City, ditto Callum Marshall at Huddersfield Town.
This season, Kaelan Casey is earning comparisons with Marc Guehi at Swansea City. Michael Forbes is putting his recent injury issues behind him under Kevin Nolan at Northampton. Goalkeeper Finlay Herrick earned an England Under-20 call-up, meanwhile, on the back of his outstanding displays for Boreham Wood.
So West Ham’s recent track record when it comes to arranging loan deals, and the way Portsmouth boss John Mousinho handled the development of Freddie Potts, means there may be an obvious frontrunner in the race to sign Mohamadou Kante.
“Yes, perfect. Get [Kante] off to a Championship team that will start him. Maybe Pompey, considering how well they treat Potts,” one fan writes on X.
“Portsmouth, 100 per cent,” another agrees.
“Pompey are massive.”
“I would want him to go somewhere like Portsmouth. They did a solid with Potts last season and deserve to do the same with Mohamadou.”
“[It would be] be good for experience if the team is actually going to give him playing time. Look how well Potts has come into the squad after his loan.”
“Yeah, give this kid a good loan get him a chance to play against proper players.”
Some at West Ham think Nuno Espirito Santo should give Kante a promotion
The Barking-born general made no fewer than 38 appearances for the Fratton Park outfit. He departed to a standing ovation on his farewell outing, while Portsmouth manager John Mousinho was right when he predicted that Potts would soon be forcing his way into the starting XI at his parent club.
A former midfielder himself back in the day, Mousinho has created a solid reputation for himself when it comes to giving chances to, and honing the talents of, bright young things.
See Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-Hyeok and now-Getafe winger Abu Kamara.
Standing at 6ft tall and almost as wide, the broad-shouldered Kante is a ‘modern Premier League midfielder’ in the making. At least, that is what West Ham’s Academy Manager Kenny Brown said when he signed a new deal until the summer of 2031 a fortnight ago.
There are others who wonder if Kante could cut out the middle man and join Potts in the first-team picture without the need for a loan spell, especially if Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse are allowed to leave.
“He should replace Rodriguez on the bench when he is moved on in January,” one fan argues.
“Keep Kante. More than likely Rodriguez and ‘JWP’ won’t be with the team in January. He needs to be with the first-team, practicing.”
Kante loved training with West Ham’s senior stars last week
After his Liverpool rocket, Kante reflected on a ‘dream start’ at West Ham. He is already a quarter of the way to meeting his target of 20 goal contributions from midfield, while he greatly appreciates the interest shown in him by Nuno.
“With the pros, it’s a different environment. It’s a higher level,” Kante told the club’s official website after training alongside Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and co.
“There are some very high-calibre players, so I’ll have to raise my game. I’ve only just discovered some of the players, so I think it will take a little time to adapt.
“But in any case, I’m very happy, and I hope it will continue and that I’ll get stronger as quickly as possible.”
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