James Ward-Prowse undergoing medical to complete West Ham exit
James Ward-Prowse is set to leave West Ham in the winter transfer window.
Ward-Prowse hasn’t featured for West Ham since September 2025, and he is desperate to play regular first-team football in the second half of the campaign.
The 31-year-old was named on the bench in the 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, although it’s clear that Nuno doesn’t see him as part of his plans moving forward.
As one of West Ham’s highest earners, Nuno is desperate to get Ward-Prowse off the books, and the English midfielder’s departure is on the verge of being completed as he undergoes a medical elsewhere.
James Ward Prowse set for medical at Burnley
Ward-Prowse had already been linked with Burnley, who sit 19th in the table and are just five points behind the Hammers.
Sky Sports News journalist Dharmesh Sheth has now confirmed that he is now undergoing a medical at Burnley.
The 31-year-old is set to move on loan to the Lancashire outfit until the end of the season.
Scott Parker’s side look destined for relegation, and they need Ward-Prowse to replace the injured Josh Cullen at the heart of their team.
Although there is no clause to sell Ward-Prowse included in the deal, Nuno will be glad to open up a spot in his squad.
Nuno’s side are five points adrift from safety, and although they have won their last two matches, their Premier League status is at risk.
Therefore, they can’t afford to lose both Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta.
West Ham have to sign a new midfielder if Lucas Paqueta also leaves
Paqueta has his heart set on a move to Flamengo, and his camp still insists that he wants to leave in January.
He hasn’t featured for the Hammers since 6 January, and fans are unsure if they’ll ever see the Brazilian playmaker make another appearance at the London Stadium.
Nuno can happily deal with losing Ward-Prowse, but if Paqueta also leaves, then he’ll need David Sullivan’s chequebook to sign an adequate replacement.
| Stat | Paqueta |
| Appearances | 139 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 15 |
West Ham have already held talks with Zulte Waregem midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, although he is certainly an unknown quantity at this level.
Sullivan has already spent £47.7million on Pablo and Taty Castellanos, and his spending over the winter transfer window may have to dramatically increase in order to replace both Ward-Prowse and Paqueta.
With the Hammers absolutely mired in relegation trouble, Nuno needs to be given as much investment as possible, and the midfield position has now emerged as an urgent priority.
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