Ian Abrahams shares what he’s been told about West Ham bid to sign Ward-Prowse
talkSPORT presenter Ian Abrahams says he has been told that West Ham are confident of signing James Ward-Prowse.
It was reported by the Mail Plus on Monday (10 July) that the Saints were expecting the Hammers to bid for the England midfielder this week, though their valuation of £40million is about double what West Ham reportedly want to pay.
Abrahams was speaking to Natalie Sawyer and Gabby Agbonlahor on talkSPORT to explain how West Ham are having to be patient making their moves in the market as captain Declan Rice has not yet completed his £105m transfer to Arsenal.
“Yeah he does (fit) and I was chatting to somebody last weekend who was quite confident that West Ham were going to get James Ward-Prowse,” he said.
“I have to say I don’t quite share that degree of confidence, I’m kind of thinking half that Ward-Prowse will stay at Southampton, half that he may well move to West Ham.
“I think if it happens it’ll be a really good move. West Ham can’t do anything right now until they’ve got the money in the bank (from selling Rice) that’s the problem that they face. They want the deal to go through, the player wants the deal to go through, Arsenal want the deal to go through.
“I’m not so sure why it’s taken the lawyers so long to draw up the contract. That’s what I understand it to be, from what I understand there’s been no problem with the medical, no problem in the terms of the deal. So quite why it’s taken so long or taking so long when it should have been over the line by last weekend is anyone’s guess.
“But I don’t see there being a situation where we’re reporting on there being a collapse in the transfer. It will happen, he will become an Arsenal happen and it will happen if not by this weekend, then by the early stages of next week I guess.”
Hammers need an end to Rice impasse
It has been clear since the end of last season that Declan Rice was going to be leaving West Ham this summer, the only issue to resolve was where he would end up.
Well, that got sorted reasonably swiftly with Manchester City not wishing to be involved in a bidding war, leaving the Gunners as the clear favourites to take Rice.
The only issue is, the transfer still – for whatever reason – has still not been signed off yet, which is a huge problem for West Ham who are reliant on the sale to conduct their own business.
Ward-Prowse would undoubtedly be a fine addition to David Moyes’ midfield ranks, even if he probably will have to add more reinforcement to replace Rice this summer.
You can totally understand West Ham’s frustration that it is not yet done, and they need an end to this impasse as soon as possible so they can go about making their own signings.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano shared what he’s been told about the hold up with Rice’s transfer.