Callum O'Connell

Tue 25 July 2023 14:10, UK

Southampton star James Ward-Prowse is set to miss the club’s pre-season friendly with Bournemouth tonight, as reported by Tactically Matt, following a transfer bid from West Ham.

Matt Smith, part of the exclusives team at GIVEMESPORT, who is followed by Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein among others, shared via his Twitter account on 25 July that the Saints captain will not play against Bournemouth tonight.

This news comes following reports that West Ham made a £25million bid for the set-piece master, as they look to bolster their midfield following the departure of Declan Rice. The Hammers have also been linked with moves for Conor Gallagher and Scott McTominay in the last 24 hours.

He ticks all the boxes

A deal for Ward-Prowse would tick all the boxes as far as West Ham are concerned. His expertise at set-pieces will be something David Moyes could perfectly utilise, while his experience of captaining Southampton for years in the Premier League will bring more leadership to the club.

Following Rice’s departure, the East London club are not only trying to find a like-for-like replacement at the base of midfield, but provide the rest of their squad with additional quality, and replace the leadership they will miss in his absence.

If West Ham can prise away Southampton’s main man on a cut-price deal (however unlikely that may be), it would represent a fantastic piece of business for the Premier League club.

The Hammers have made multiple approaches for midfielders, after moves for Gallagher, Ward-Prowse, McTominay and Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez have all received coverage over the last 24 hours, with a sudden urgency at West Ham to press ahead with recruitment.

Whether Ward-Prowses absence from tonight’s friendly is anything to do with West Ham’s interest is unknown, he may simply have suffered a knock in training, but the timing is certainly interesting.

In other West Ham news, the club are locked in a tug-of-war with European giants over transfer deal.