Nottingham Forest are reportedly on the verge of signing West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse in a transfer deadline day deal.
West Ham’s summer transfer business has put the future of James Ward-Prowse under the spotlight.
Now it seems that has played into the hands of Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
West Ham fans who follow Hammers News won’t be too surprised to hear Ward-Prowse might be leaving.
A Hammers board source reported Ward-Prowse could depart all the way back at the end of May.
The truth of the matter is that Ward-Prowse was very much a David Moyes signing at West Ham last summer.
Merson shock at Forest signing Ward-Prowse from West Ham
Tim Steidten wanted Yousouff Fofana from Monaco but the Irons signed Ward-Prowse instead for £30m.
Ward-Prowse contributed 18 goals and assists in all competitions for West Ham in his debut season.
But his contribution to the team in open play was often questioned.
Ward-Prowse also failed to score a single free-kick in his first season.
It has been claimed this week that Nottingham Forest will make an offer for Ward-Prowse. Especially in the wake of Danilo’s horror ankle injury on the opening day of the season.
Nottingham Forest fans will undoubtedly welcome news Ward-Prowse is having a medical to join them before Friday night’s deadline.
Ward-Prowse out, Soler in at West Ham
Although offset by the imminent arrival of Carlos Soler from PSG, news the Hammers will let Ward-Prowse join Nottingham Forest has divided opinion among some West Ham fans.
The deal has also caught one leading pundit by surprise.
Paul Merson says he is in shock that Nottingham Forest are signing Ward-Prowse from West Ham.
Speaking about the deal on Sky Sports News (2.54pm), Merson feels it is a great signing for Nottingham Forest, suggesting it’s a strange decision from the Hammers.
“I would 100% say (that’s a good bit of business by Nottingham Forest),” Merson said.
“I think he’s a great passer of the ball, they’ve got a lot of pace Nottingham Forest going forward and now they’ve got someone of his talent behind them putting the ball through for them.
“It’s a no-brainer, I think it’s a good signing. I was quite shocked when I saw that he was going there on loan. A big coup for me for Nottingham Forest that one.”
Ward-Prowse contribution in open play not good enough
If Merson thinks Ward-Prowse is a player who gets on the ball and threads through-balls for his assists, it does make you wonder what player he has been watching.
Most of Ward-Prowse’s assists clearly come from set-pieces.
And West Ham are looking to play in a different way that is far less reliant on set-pieces under Julen Lopetegui.
The harsh truth is that it’s difficult to see where Ward-Prowse will get games for the Hammers with Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek and – if he signs – Soler all ahead of him.
Soler is also a set-piece specialist who is much better on the ball as a playmaker than Ward-Prowse.
He can play in both defensive and attacking midfield too.
So while this may – as Merson says – be a good deal for Forest, it also works for West Ham as it enables the Soler deal to go through.
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