‘He wants to play for David Moyes at West Ham’ says Dharmesh Sheth in an intriguing claim about a move for prime target James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham boss David Moyes has reportedly made Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse one of his key targets this summer transfer window.
The Hammers had three offers rejected by the south coast club including the latest of £30m including add-ons.
As a result West Ham declared they were walking away from the deal as the Saints insist they want closer to £40m.
That has not stopped speculation, though. Far from it.
Football Insider claimed yesterday that West Ham were ‘still confident’ of getting a deal done for Ward-Prowse.
‘He wants to play for David Moyes at West Ham’ Dharmesh Sheth makes intriguing claim about move for prime target James Ward-Prowse
But links also intensified over moves for midfielders Scott McTominay, Edson Alvarez and Youssouf Fofana, suggesting West Ham had moved on.
The clearest sign yet that no deal was remotely close between West Ham and Saints came overnight when Ward-Prowse started and captained the side in their Championship season opener at Sheffield Wednesday.
But Sky Sports’ top transfer reporter insists that does not necessarily mean a West Ham move for Ward-Prowse is dead.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Friday night after Ward-Prowse was named in the Southampton starting line-up, Dharmesh Sheth lifted the lid on what he has heard about the player’s stance.
‘We do think…’
‘He wants to play for Moyes at West Ham’ says Sheth as he makes an intriguing claim about a move for target Ward-Prowse.
“Good question,” Sheth said when asked whether Ward-Prowse would still be at Southampton next weekend.
“West Ham remain interested in the Southampton captain however it’s thought there would need to be a compromise between what Southampton value James Ward-Prowse at and what West Ham United are prepared to pay for a deal to be happen…
“We do think that Ward-Prowse is keen on the move. We do think he wants to go back to the Premier League and he wants to play for David Moyes at West Ham United. Moyes is a long-term admirer, West Ham have tried to sign him before.”
Sheth’s comments carry weight given he spent an evening in Moyes’ company this week at West Ham’s special awards evening to celebrate their Europa Conference League triumph.