West Ham United want to sign Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse
West Ham United are looking at the prospect of signing Southampton’s set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to the Sun.
The 27-year-old only signed a new five-year deal at St Mary’s last summer but the potential of European football next season could be enough to tempt him to the London Stadium should the Saints agree to sell him.
Hammers manager David Moyes is supposedly a big admirer of the England international who needs to consider whether Southampton is the best place for him to showcase his ability to Gareth Southgate ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in November.
The boss especially wants another dead-ball connoisseur to go alongside the left-footed Aaron Cresswell and the right-footed Ward-Prowse fits the bill having scored 14 times from direct free-kicks in the Premier League.
Despite Moyes’ desire to sign an English midfielder, with Kalvin Phillips also on his radar, the new arrival would not be seen as a replacement for Declan Rice should the 23-year-old leave but rather a midfield partner for the club vice-captain.
Test their metal
Southampton may have already said that Ward-Prowse is not for sale but that is what every team does when their star players start attracting interest.
There is a price that will force the Saints to shake hands even if it is likely to be a club-record fee should it occur but that is the biggest hurdle to overcome.
There are few reasons why he would prefer to stay on the south coast in a team destined for no better than mid-table when he could move to the capital and play for a side that could challenge for the top-four next season and play European football alongside it too.
He and Rice could play together for England before the 2022-23 season rolls around and for Moyes, it would be a very good barometer test to see how the two combine with each other and if it is likely to be a viable pairing for the Irons once the domestic season kicks off again.
In other West Ham news, Rice could be about to receive an eye-watering contract offer that would total £124.8million in just wages.
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