Pundit: West Ham United must avoid £50m signing of James Ward-Prowse as he 'doesn't make them better'

By West Ham Zone speaking to Frank McAvennie

24th May, 2023 | 11:10am

We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…

Frank McAvennie has warned West Ham against the £50m signing of Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, claiming he “doesn’t make them better”.

The Hammers are expected to lose captain Declan Rice this summer and need to replace him, with reports suggesting there is a bid prepared for the recently relegated England international to come into the club in his place.

But when asked about the potential signing, McAvennie believes that he would simply be a good player among other good players and wouldn’t help to improve the squad.

“Listen he can take a free-kick and he can take a corner, but has he got that grit and determination in midfield? I don’t know,” he told West Ham Zone.

“As I say we’ve got good players. Ward-Prowse is a good player, but we’ve got good players. Some players are not getting a game like Fornals, he’d be in the same bracket as that.

“I don’t think he’d come to West Ham to play cup games. I don’t see why he’d do that. I think he’s a decent player but I don’t think he’s going to come to West Ham and make them better. I don’t think so.

“He’d fit into it with good players but he won’t take them up a level. No disrespect to him, he’s a good player, but they’ve got good players and I don’t think he comes in and takes them up.

“He’s not won anything, so he’s not a winner and he’s not going to make them a better team. I don’t think he’d be a good signing.”