West Ham boss David Moyes has let slip that he clearly tried to sign Saints star James Ward-Prowse and it bodes well for the summer.
When West Ham captain Declan Rice goes head-to-head with Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse today it could be something of a sliding doors moment.
Both 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.
The England teammates are both far too good to be leading sides in a relegation battle.
But that’s exactly where David Moyes’ West Ham, Southampton and seven other clubs find themselves in the tightest fight for survival in Premier League history.
Clearly if West Ham can stay up and the Saints drop it will not only protect the value of Rice but drive down what Southampton can demand for Ward-Prowse.
So it adds an intriguing sub plot to an already massive relegation six-pointer at the London Stadium as the Premier League’s bottom two clash.
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.
West Ham were apparently ready to spend big on the 28-year-old last summer, but we never got the deal done and signed Lucas Paqueta instead.
When it comes to transfer rumours it is sometimes difficult to distinguish which ones are legitimate, such is the way of the modern game.
But now West Ham boss Moyes has let slip that he clearly tried to sign Saints star Ward-Prowse and it bodes well for the summer.
Speaking ahead of West Ham’s game against Southampton, Moyes gave it away somewhat that he has tried to sign the midfield free-kick master.
Moyes is notorious for doing his due diligence on players both as players and characters before he even considers signing them.
Sometimes that is to West Ham’s detriment as he insists on doing a series of checks and watching players live which can leave the door open for other clubs to beat the Hammers to the punch.
Moyes has previously declared he has a strict ‘no d-heads’ recruitment policy inspired by the All Blacks (The Daily Mail, The Daily Star).
So if Moyes talks positively about the character of a rumoured target, you can bet your house that he’s done the groundwork to try and sign him.
And that’s exactly what he has done ahead of facing Ward-Prowse and his side.
West Ham boss David Moyes lets slip that he clearly tried to sign Saints star James Ward-Prowse and it bodes well for the summer
“I know James Ward-Prowse is a good footballer…” Moyes said in his pre-match presser.
“He is an incredibly good set-piece taker and by all accounts a really good lad… but obviously I am more interested in how we perform.”
That key line ‘by all accounts a really good lad’ tells you everything.
Moyes has clearly done his homework on what Ward-Prowse is like as a character with several different sources – probably Rice and Danny Ings included.
And that bodes well for the summer as long as West Ham can stay up. Because Ward-Prowse would make an absolutely superb addition when Rice leaves.
Not only is he a lovely player in the middle of the park. He 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.
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