West Ham United transfer news as Flynn Downes expected to join Southampton on loan after James Ward-Prowse agreement
West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes is now expected to join Southampton on loan following the agreement to sign James Ward-Prowse, according to Jacob Steinberg.
The Guardian journalist, taking to his personal Twitter account (9 August), reports that the expectation is for the 2022 summer signing to join the Saints on loan with previous suggestions stating that Downes’ departure was linked to the Ward-Prowse deal.
West Ham reached an agreement with Southampton to sign James Ward-Prowse for a fee of around £30m on Wednesday and it is now expected that Downes could follow Gianlucan Scamacca and Nikola Vlasic as the Hammers’ latest departures.
Steinberg tweeted: “Expectation is that Flynn Downes will leave West Ham and join Southampton on loan.
“Previous suggestion was Downes would be linked to the JWP deal.”
Exit best for Downes now
The 24-year-old Hammers fan made 21 appearances during the 2022/23 season after his £12m move from Swansea City, however, only a handful of them were from the outset.
He certainly would have expected more game-time after making such a big-money move to the London Stadium last summer and it is certainly looking like a failed move for both parties at present.
With Edson Alvarez and Ward-Prowse now expected through the Hammers doors in the next few days, Downes’ game-time will be severely limited again which means an exit is now the best route for his career, even if it is temporary.
Following the departure of Declan Rice, Downes may well have been forgiven for possessing some new-found optimism regarding his West Ham United first-team future.
But it was made clear last season when he did start that wasn’t up to the required level for David Moyes. With West Ham United now capturing the midfield signings they need, it’s time Downes empties his London Stadium locker.
And a move to Southampton under the tutelage of former Swansea City manager Russell Martin is a move he would be very tempted by.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have now reached a total verbal agreement for the signing of one experienced Premier League player.