James Ward-Prowse update emerges amid West Ham United talks with Manchester United – Dharmesh Sheth
West Ham are once more “looking at” James Ward-Prowse after talks with Manchester United over Scott McTominay, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist reported via Twitter on Tuesday afternoon (8 August) that “talks continue” between the Hammers and the Old Trafford side over the Scottish midfielder and his centre-back teammate Harry Maguire, but with a “compromise” much closer on the defender “other options” were back on the table for midfield.
West Ham already had a £30million bid for Southampton captain Ward-Prowse rejected but according to Sheth “going back in” is now “not ruled out”.
The Hammers were unsuccessful with a pair of £30m bids to Manchester United for Maguire and McTominay on Monday, with the midfielder’s £45m asking price looking hard to bridge [Telegraph, 27 July].
Edson Alvarez is due to become the first summer signing from Ajax but the Irons want a second midfielder to help replace Declan Rice.
Round we go
If other teams have inflated their fees to sell this summer West Ham are going to end up going round in circles at this rate.
Ward-Prowse is older, 28, than McTominay, 26, but somewhat cheaper with the Saints wanting £40m but some suggestions he could be secured for £35m.
With Alvarez on the way in as a more defensive option the Southampton man would fit the bill as a more forward-thinking partner to go alongside the Mexican.
Clearly either West Ham are going to need to up their offers for these late deals or the selling clubs are going to need to lower their fees.
All indications are that Erik ten Hag is ready to keep McTominay, and while Southampton would clearly love to do the same with England international Ward-Prowse he will want to leave more thanks to their relegation from the Premier League.
Either way, if David Moyes wants the dead-ball specialist that badly then it looks like the club might just need to pay the difference and be done with it.
In other West Ham news, yet another first team man is now trying to work his way out of the club before the window shuts.