Potter makes decisive Gross decision as contract ticks down
promotion to the top flight in 2017, joining from Bundesliga side Ingolstadt 04.
He has since made 147 Premier League appearances and scored 15 times and made 26 assists.
He has been a regular under Potter and has shown his versatility and played a number of positions.
Potter was asked by
what the future holds for Gross beyond this summer and if he wants the German to remain.
“Yes,” said Potter emphatically. “If you look at the games Pascal has played, he’s played a lot of games for me and many games for Brighton & Hove Albion.
“He has been an important player during our time in the Premier League. He has played a huge role in that. Important player and an important person in the group.
“I have really enjoyed working with him and looking forward to more seasons.”
Striker Danny Welbeck is also out of contract this summer and the striker this season has struggled with injuries. The former Man United and Arsenal marksman has shown touches of class but lack of fitness has prevented him from contributing on a consistent basis.
Asked if Welbeck is in his thoughts for next season, Potter said: “Yes of course. Now is not the time to speak about that from our perspective or his perspective. Now is time to focus on the game and hopefully we can get him enjoying his football and scoring goals and then we can think about the future.”
Meanwhile, Potter would love Ben White to still be in a Brighton shirt but accepts money talks.
“In an ideal world if you’re playing with no finances [we would have kept him] – but they’re quite important finances,” Potter said of White.
“Certainly if the chairman [Tony Bloom] was sat next to me he’d be saying they’re quite important. We’ve been through Covid, all sorts of challenges as a football club, and when you get that type of offer it’s difficult to turn down.”