Bass is the reason why Blues don’t need to sign a new goalkeeper
Gavin Bazunu's Pompey replacement may be hiding in plain sight.
It’s no secret that the Blues will be searching to fill the void left by the Republic of Ireland international this summer after the 20-year-old returned to Manchester City.
Whoever is tasked with replicating his immense performances may view it as a daunting prospect.
But the club could do a lot worse than handing longtime understudy Alex Bass the number one jersey next season.
Arguably, the Fratton academy graduate has never let his boyhood club down when wearing royal blue.
In his two League One appearances during the first half of last season he collected clean sheets – and was crucial to the victory over Wycombe in November, saving a firsthalf penalty before Marcus Harness grabbed the only goal.
A successful loan spell at Bradford followed in January, of course, where he put his injury misfortune behind him to make 21 consecutive appearances.
Not only did this show his reliability between the sticks, but it was also an act of mental strength as he came back from a double leg fracture a year earlier.
Danny Cowley will certainly be in the market for a new stopper, after it was announced Ollie Webber will be departing at the end of his contract.
This leaves only two academy graduates, Bass and Toby Steward, remaining at the club, with the latter only 17.
However, with Pompey in need of outfield reinforcements, money could be better invested than on a new keeper. And with Bass falling into the category of someone Pompey can sell for profit, it makes little sense to develop a Premier League starlet on loan again.
A question mark that has often surrounded Bass is his ability with the ball at his feet - a factor which saw Cowley elect Bazunu as first choice last summer.
But during his loan spell at Valley Parade, Bass completed 71.1 per cent of his long passes and, impressively, 97.4 per cent of his short passes.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Bass, but he should get the chance to try to cement his position as first choice in pre-season at least.