West Ham United are apparently close to bringing James Ward-Prowse back from his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.
However, a surprise twist has just emerged.
James Ward-Prowse left West Ham to link up with Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan back in the summer.
However, David Ornstein claimed early this morning that the 30-year-old is set to return to the Hammers on deadline day.
The news came as a huge surprise.
Not because he has been ripping it up with Forest – he certainly hasn’t been doing that.
But more so because everyone at West Ham had forgotten about Ward-Prowse – we all just thought he would spend the season at the City Ground.
So will he be coming back to work under Graham Potter at the London Stadium?
Sobering James Ward-Prowse West Ham return transfer twist
The 30-year-old has barely played for Forest this season – just 398 Premier League minutes in fact (Transfermarkt).
His loan spell at the City Ground clearly hasn’t worked out at all.
So perhaps a return to West Ham would be the ideal solution for all parties involved.
Will a deal be as straightforward to get done as some people are making out though?
According to Sean Whetstone – one of David Sullivan’s most trusted confidants – the Hammers don’t actually have a recall option on the 30-year-old midfielder.
So it remains to be seen whether we are actually able to mutually agree the termination of Ward-Prowse’s loan deal with Forest.
I’m sure that a deal will be done in the end.
Forest have no use for him right now and the Hammers need bodies through the door as a matter of urgency.
If West Ham do bring James Ward-Prowse back to the London Stadium on deadline day, I don’t think it would be a bad move at all.
However, I have to say that I would have preferred us to go all out to sign a box-to-box powerhouse – someone like Ezechiel Banzuzi.
Hopefully Potter is keeping his powder dry for the summer.
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