In a recent report, The Athletic mentioned that West Ham United have agreed on a free for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse this summer. It has been stated that the Hammers are on the verge of bringing the English midfielder to the London Stadium in this off-season.
Ward-Prowse’s Solid Run Of Form At St. Mary’s Stadium
Ward-Prowse enjoyed a decent campaign at the English club last season but failed to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League. The English playmaker scored 11 goals and grabbed five assists in 45 matches for the Saints last season across all competitions.
The 28-year-old was a valuable contributor at both ends of the field based on his average of 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 clearances, 1.2 shots and 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even been tidy when distributing the ball from midfield after completing 85.3% of his attempted passes in the English top flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Southampton will run out in the summer of 2026. Therefore, the Hammers will have to make a big offer if they want to recruit him before the end of this month.
Is Ward-Prowse The Right Fit For West Ham United Boss David Moyes?
Ward-Prowse is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn possession back for his team in the middle of the park. He doesn’t mind clearing the danger when needed and can shoot the ball with venom and precision from long range.
The English midfield ace can even engineer a few promising chances for his teammates up top. However, he lacks the pace to track back and make recovering runs at the back.
Still, someone with Ward-Prowse’s quality would no doubt be a welcome addition to West Ham boss David Moyes’ match-day squad ahead of the new campaign.
The English sensation could serve as an ideal replacement for Declan Rice who parted ways with the Hammers earlier this summer. He might even help the East London club challenge for a top-eight finish in the Premier League next season. With all things considered, West Ham have done well to lure Ward-Prowse to the London Stadium in this ongoing transfer window.
