According to Soccerlink, James Ward-Prowse has emerged as a shock target for Tottenham. The Southampton midfielder is among the players courted by the Lilywhites, with manager Jose Mourinho expected to make wholesale changes in the midfield department this summer. Ward-Prowse is the former teammate of Spurs’ new signing, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
What does Ward-Prowse bring to the table?
A central midfielder by trade, Ward-Prowse is among Southampton’s most creative players. He is primarily known for his expertise from set-pieces, as he can not only score from direct free-kicks but also provide sumptuous crosses from the wider areas of the pitch.
It makes him a lethal weapon for a Southampton side, who often rely on set-pieces, as far as their chance creation is concerned. However, the Englishman is also an industrious midfielder, who is well aware of his defensive chores.
The 25-year-old can indeed offer defensive support to the table while his aggression and tenacity make him a useful figure in the second line of press. He has only gotten better under current manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
However, one thing that is often overlooked when it comes to Ward-Prowse is his experience. The midfielder is actually one of the longest-serving players in the current Southampton side, having been a part of the first-team since 2012. He has made 278 appearances for the Saints, 231 of which have come in the Premier League.
How does Ward-Prowse fit in at Spurs?
Ward-Prowse is a bizarre option for Tottenham Hotspur for multiple reasons. That is, unless, they plan to offload at least two or more midfielders in the ongoing summer transfer window.
After all, from a tactical sense, Ward-Prowse is more suited to Jose Mourinho’s style of play than players like Harry Winks or Tanguy Ndombele. Both of them are too technique-oriented as opposed to the robust, high pressing game Hojbjerg and Ward-Prowse can offer.
The 25-year-old may not be a first-team option for Spurs, but his ability to create chances from set-pieces or the wider positions could add more bite into the side’s overall creative output. It is also fair to point out that the Southampton star can feature on the right-flank, thus giving Mourinho more tactical options at his disposal.
Moreover, Ward-Prowse has proven to be quite productive in his game as well, notably taking part in eight goals for Southampton this past season. Such efficiency and productivity should aid a Spurs side that has grown way too over-reliant on the services of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min.
