West Ham have been intensifying their recruitment drive ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign and the Hammers are currently working hard to complete the signing of midfielder James Ward-Prowse from Southampton.
Despite having several bids rejected for the Saints skipper’s services earlier this summer, it now looks as though West Ham have reached an agreement with Southampton and the Londoners could have the deal sewed up by the weekend.
West Ham had seen offers of £25m and £27m knocked back for Ward-Prowse – so how much is the set-piece specialist actually worth?
How much is James Ward-Prowse worth?
James Ward-Prowse has been part of the furniture at Southampton since joining the club’s academy set-up as an eight-year-old in 2003 and became a first-team staple following his debut for the first team in 2011.
In his 13-year stint at St. Mary's the midfielder has gone on to play 410 games, scoring 55 goals and providing 54 assists.
An England international, Ward-Prowse was capped for the 11th time as recently as 2022, while his combative streak and insane productivity from set pieces are among his most noteworthy traits.
Indeed, only David Beckham (18) has scored more goals from direct free kicks than Ward-Prowse in Premier League history and in a division where that particular skillset seems to have diminished, his accuracy from dead balls is a highly-coveted ability.
At 28, the schemer is in his prime while his current contract with Southampton runs until 2026, further strengthening the Saints’ hand in negotiations.
The club’s relegation has forced them into something of a corner however and with Ward-Prowse keen to remain a Premier League player, Southampton are being forced to cash in.
The Saints have been fairly transparent with their £32m valuation of their captain – a fee West Ham look set to meet in the latest round of discussions.
In a market where transfer fees are still spiralling and recruits from mid-table Premier League outfits can cost upwards of £70m, a £32m deal to sign Ward-Prowse already looks like a savvy manoeuvre by the Irons.
Ward-Prowse was not in the squad for the Saints' dire 3-1 loss to League Two Gillingham on Tuesday night, which suggests he is on the cusp of an exit.
Who else is on West Ham’s radar?
With a deal for James Ward-Prowse inching towards completion, West Ham have been grafting elsewhere to secure more of David Moyes’ transfer targets.
This morning, fresh news has broken regarding the Hammers’ pursuit of Harry Maguire with a fee of around £30m said to be agreed with selling club Manchester United for the defender’s signature.
Alongside Harry Maguire, West Ham are also interested in bringing Scott McTominay south from Old Trafford, though the gap in valuation between the clubs for the Scottish international currently has that deal on ice.
Elsewhere, Mexican regular Edson Alvarez should be through the doors from Ajax soon, though Manchester City’s arrival on the scene for Lucas Paqueta could leave West Ham with another major hole to fill in midfield following the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal earlier this summer.
It’s already shaping up to be a very busy time at the London Stadium in the closing weeks of the transfer window.
