Dan Carter

Tue 25 July 2023 7:40, UK

West Ham United have made their opening push to sign Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse with a £25m deal now on the table, according to the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath.

The Irons are desperately continuing their search for a new midfielder having lost Declan Rice this summer and have sent an offer for the England international after having a £40m bid for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher rejected.

Ward-Prowse has been the subject of plenty of interest this summer following the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League, but the Irons are the first to test their resolve with a genuine bid.

Taking to Twitter late on 24 July, McGrath wrote: “West Ham have made their opening move for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse. Deal worth £25m in total.”

The 28-year-old is as a player who could fulfil a number of roles under David Moyes. The West Ham boss has been looking at a host of defensive midfielders including Denis Zakaria, Joao Palhinha and Scott McTominay.

A different type of option

One fan on social media phrased the Irons’ pursuit of midfielders this summer as, if you’ve ever played more than a few games in the middle of the park, West Ham will probably be interested and bid around £7m under your asking price.

Now that is obviously a very tongue-in-cheek joke from a member of the club’s fanbase, but there is more than an element of truth in the statement, West Ham have been linked with anyone and everyone who plays in midfield this summer.

Ward-Prowse, however, represents a possible astute piece of business. As a player, he is incredibly different from Declan Rice, with the focus being on his delivery into the area and his set-piece ability, rather than his defensive and ball-carrying attributes.

But that’s what makes him an exciting option, Moyes seems to be enticed by the former England international because of his versatility, he can play at the base of defence as an almost quarter-back, or at the top as an attacking midfielder.

With moves for a number of other targets, like Gallagher, reportedly costing fees well in excess of this initial offer for Ward-Prowse, his ability to impact the game so heavily and do it from all over midfield may make him the best option available to Moyes right now, even if he isn’t your archetypal big-man in the middle of the park.

While some will always remain focused on his complete difference in style to Rice, that may be what has attracted the Scotsman to the £25m man.

In other West Ham news, one source has played down the chances of Divock Origi joining the Irons this summer