West Ham agree £30m deal to sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton with David Moyes
West Ham have reached an agreement worth £30m to acquire James Ward-Prowse from Southampton, as David Moyes prepares…
West Ham United are set to finally sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton for £30million after chasing the England midfielder for much of the summer.
The Europa Conference League champions had a £25million bid for the England international turned away last week, with their latest offer for the midfielder increased to £27m plus a further £3m in add-ons.
Both parties are hopeful of completing a deal by the weekend, meaning Saturday’s Championship clash with Norwich at the weekend could be Ward-Prowse’s last in red and white.
The set-piece specialist was not in the squad for the Saints’ dismal 3-1 defeat to League Two Gillingham on Tuesday night, with Liverpool target Romeo Lavia also absent.
Both parties are hopeful of completing a deal by the weekend, meaning Saturday’s Championship clash with Norwich at the weekend could be Ward-Prowse’s last in red and white.
He was part of the Southampton squad that were relegated from the Premier League last season, with his effort of nine goals and four assists not enough to help his side stay afloat.
Ward-Prowse has spent his entire professional career at Southampton, having graduated from the club’s academy.
In his 13-year stay at St Mary’s, he has gone on to play 410 games, scoring 55 goals and providing 54 assists.
There had been unrest at West Ham over a lack of transfer activity, although Moyes and Co have now agreed a £34m fee for Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, as they look to spend some of the £105m made from the sale of Declan Rice.
A move for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha has also not been ruled out, although the player’s injury – and £60m price tag – are thought to be deterrents with West Ham also admirers of Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
The Hammers are have also struck a deal for Man United defender Harry Maguire.
The clubs agreed a deal worth £30m and personal terms between Maguire and the Hammers are not expected to be an issue.
West Ham are optimistic about their chances of completing the signing of the England international, though there is still final details that need to be sorted before the move can be completed.
It would bring an end to his four-year stint at Old Trafford, after joining the club for a record £80m fee for a defender from Leicester City in 2019.
The Red Devils previously rejected a £20m move from the Hammers for Maguire, while David Moyes’ side have also expressed an interest in landing his United team mate Scott McTominay.
It was previously reported that Maguire hoped to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, despite regularly having to contend with a place on the bench last season behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and even left-back Luke Shaw.
Moyes, though, was willing to offer Maguire a chance of a fresh start in the Premier League.
Leave a Reply