A very real James Ward-Prowse possibility has moved a step closer to reality for West Ham as logical next step for all parties.
When West Ham captain Declan Rice went head-to-head with Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse in a relegation six-pointer last weekend it felt like something of a sliding doors moment.
Rice came out on the winning side to boost West Ham’s Premier League survival hopes and push Ward-Prowse’s Saints closer to the drop.
Both midfield stars are expected to leave their respective clubs in the summer. And Rice’s departure from West Ham could well see the Hammers make another big money move to sign Ward-Prowse as his replacement.
If Southampton drop it will guarantee Ward-Prowse leaves the club. And it will also drive down the price Southampton can demand for their talisman.
Real James Ward-Prowse possibility moves a step closer to reality for West Ham as logical next step for all parties
Reports from the likes of Sky Sports and talkSPORT have suggested West Ham will try again for Southampton’s captain and star man Ward-Prowse this summer.
And last week David Moyes effectively admitted he looked at signing Rice’s England teammate back in the summer.
Now the real Ward-Prowse possibility has moved a step closer to reality for West Ham as the logical next step for all parties.
West Ham won at Fulham on Saturday while Saints were well beaten 4-1 by Man City.
The result has seen West Ham put what is effectively an eight-point gap between them and Southampton given the vastly superior goal difference.
Many now feel Southampton are all but confirmed as one of the three sides who will be relegated.
Ready made captain material for Hammers
Ward-Prowse may have a number of clubs chasing him in the summer.
But realistically he is not going to get a move to a top six side. And even if one was interested, he would be a bit-part player at best – like a Kalvin Phillips at Man City.
With Rice moving on, Ward-Prowse would make an absolutely superb addition for West Ham, where he would play every single game and be in with a shout of potenitally skippering the side too.
It is the logical step for the player and the Hammers.
Not only is he a lovely player in the middle of the park. But Ward-Prowse could also be a long term penalty taker in the Mark Noble mould and bring that all important goal threat from free-kicks and set piece delivery.
With Saints looked doomed and the Hammers a couple of wins from safety the possibility of Ward-Prowse replacing Rice at the London Stadium is moving closer to being a distinct possibility.
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