“Southampton’s SHOCKING £30M Plot to Steal West Ham’s Star in JAW-DROPPING Transfer Twist!”
James Ward-Prowse dropped from West Ham squad for Everton clash after disappointing start to the season
Soungoutou Magassa stepped in for James Ward-Prowse against Everton, with the experienced midfielder not even included in the travelling squad to Merseyside.
In his absence, Magassa linked up well with Matues Fernandes, forming a strong midfield pairing that is expected to continue when West Ham face Arsenal in their upcoming Premier League clash.
Ward-Prowse, once a guaranteed starter under Graham Potter, now finds his West Ham future in doubt under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Ward-Prowse told he can leave
Nuno reportedly held private talks with Ward-Prowse before dropping him for the Everton match.
The Portuguese coach had previously worked with the midfielder during his spell at Nottingham Forest, yet it appears he has different plans in East London.
West Ham are prepared to offload Ward-Prowse, who earns £120,000 per week and is among the club’s highest earners.
During discussions, the 30-year-old was informed he is free to depart if a suitable offer arrives.
The Hammers, however, face a financial challenge. Having spent £30million on him in 2023, they are unlikely to recover anywhere near that sum.
Ward-Prowse has struggled to replicate his Southampton form and remains far from the player who once dominated with set-pieces and tireless running.
Reports from GiveMeSport on October 2 suggest Southampton are weighing up the possibility of re-signing him in the January window.
So far, West Ham have seen little benefit from his trademark free-kick ability, while his work rate has also come under scrutiny.
In their opening league game against Sunderland, Ward-Prowse recorded just 10.4 kilometres covered—among the lowest in the team.
What West Ham could earn from his departure
While the full £30million fee looks out of reach, the Hammers could still claw back a reasonable sum.
A realistic January exit would be a loan deal with an option to buy, particularly if Southampton secure promotion back to the Premier League.
With only a year left on his contract, he could be available for as little as £10million next summer.
Factoring in around £3million saved in wages from a loan arrangement, West Ham could potentially cut their overall losses by £13million—softening the blow of an underwhelming spell.
