West Ham won’t be forced to overpay in their pursuit of James Ward-Prowse this summer
Southampton’s asking price for James Ward-Prowse is putting Premier League clubs, including West Ham, off of a move for him this summer, according to The Athletic.
Premier League clubs are unwilling to meet the price of £30million Southampton have set on Ward-Prowse, partly due to their other midfielder Romeo Lavia being a more attractive option, but also because no club is interested enough to spend that kind of money.
West Ham are one club that have been linked to Ward-Prowse frequently this summer, and the report suggests he may depart towards the end of the transfer window – a period where his price may drop to an affordable one for the Irons.
Southampton are keen to keep their star man at the club this season, but aren’t in a particularly strong bargaining position with their recent relegation and bloated squad, as they look to shift players to free space for incoming signings.
West Ham shouldn’t bite
If the price tag drops towards the end of the transfer window then West Ham should certainly be in for him, he is a better player than some others West Ham have shown interest in, and his specialist skill from set-pieces would provide something David Moyes views as key for his teams.
A move for the Southampton midfielder would make sense, especially as Aaron Cresswell looks like he could leave the club, so there would be a void of effective set-piece takers that Ward-Prowse could fill.
But at that price, West Ham should stay well clear of any deal for Ward-Prowse. As good as he would be for the Hammers, there are better and younger options available for that kind of money.
One such option would be Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is reportedly available for around £34million. Only slightly higher than Southampton’s valuation of their key man, but Alvarez is three years younger and has played at a higher level, in the Champions League and at the 2022 World Cup.
The Hammers should not be forced to overpay, despite their recent influx of cash following Declan Rice’s exit, and would be better served to wait for the price to come down, or pursue other targets.
In other West Ham news, the club could target four new signings before the start of the season.