West Ham United’s Pursuit of Southampton Captain James Ward-Prowse Continues

West Ham United’s Pursuit of Southampton Captain James Ward-Prowse Continues

West Ham United’s interest in signing Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse shows no signs of fading away. Despite the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a staggering £105 million, Hammers boss David Moyes remains eager to make his first summer signing.

According to respected journalist Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, West Ham has temporarily put their pursuit of Ward-Prowse on hold. Steinberg suggests that Hammers technical director Tim Steidten is against signing the 28-year-old midfielder, who has an impressive record of 89 goal contributions in 343 Premier League appearances. However, Moyes views Ward-Prowse as a key target.

Recent reports indicate that West Ham had a £30 million bid rejected by Southampton. The Championship side is holding out for £40 million, a figure that West Ham is currently unwilling to meet, despite the financial boost from Rice’s departure.

Paul Brown, another reputable journalist, has expressed confidence that West Ham can persuade Southampton to lower their valuation. Particularly after Newcastle United dropped their interest in Ward-Prowse. However, with Ward-Prowse still having three years left on his £100,000-per-week contract, Southampton holds a strong negotiating position.

Despite the uncertainty, transfer insider Dean Jones believes that West Ham will ultimately secure the signing of Ward-Prowse. Jones revealed that there is still ongoing communication between the two clubs. Furthermore, Ward-Prowse himself is eager to join the Europa Conference League winners and work under Moyes.

At the moment, West Ham might be £10 million away from Southampton’s valuation, and it is unclear how quickly the deal will progress. There is a possibility that Ward-Prowse could start the season with Southampton. However, it seems inevitable that he will make the move to West Ham soon, as Moyes continues to prioritize him as a top target.

In other news, it appears that West Ham is also in the market for a new striker. French media outlet RMC Sport revealed that the Hammers have expressed interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Hugo Ekitike, who scored four goals last season. However, West Ham faces competition from Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, and Nottingham Forest for the 21-year-old’s signature.

With doubts surrounding Michail Antonio‘s future, Everton could also rekindle their interest in the striker. Gianluca Scamacca could be on his way out of West Ham, with Inter Milan reportedly making bids. However, West Ham is holding out for a £30 million transfer fee.

West Ham United’s pursuit of James Ward-Prowse continues, and Moyes remains determined to strengthen his squad for the upcoming season. The negotiations between West Ham and Southampton are ongoing, and it remains to be seen when a deal will be finalized. However, both the player’s desire to join West Ham and Moyes’ interest in securing his services suggest that this transfer will eventually happen.