West Ham hopeful of signing James Ward-Prowse despite rejected bid and being £15million off Southampton’s valuation

West Ham are confident that James Ward-Prowse is interested in joining them this summer, according to talkSPORT. The Hammers had a £20 million bid for the Southampton captain rejected recently. However, they are prepared to make another offer and believe that a deal can be reached, although they have set a limit for themselves. It is worth noting that West Ham will not exceed £25 million for the midfielder. Meanwhile, Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, value their player at £40 million. Stay tuned for more updates. For the latest news, including this story, you can listen to talkSPORT.
West Ham United are continuing their pursuit of England international James Ward-Prowse, despite having a £20million bid rejected by Southampton earlier this week. According to reports, the Hammers remain hopeful of negotiating a deal for the midfielder, whom they value at £20million, despite the Saints valuing him at £35million.

The 26-year-old has been with the South Coast side since joining their academy at the age of eight and has gone on to make more than 250 Premier League appearances for the club. He is the second-longest serving player in the Saints’ squad behind captain and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Ward-Prowse has also become a key figure in the England team, earning 18 caps since making his debut in November 2020. He has been an instrumental part of Gareth Southgate’s side and was an unused substitute in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

West Ham, who have been looking to strengthen their midfield for some time, have identified Ward-Prowse as an excellent fit. The captain of both the club and the national team, he has shown an impressive level of leadership and consistency over the course of his career. His impressive dead-ball ability and athleticism would undoubtedly add a different dynamic to the West Ham midfield.

In the face of Southampton’s £15million valuation gap, the Hammers remain hopeful of signing Ward-Prowse this summer. It is believed that they are prepared to increase their offer and are hopeful of finalising a deal before the end of the transfer window.

For now, it remains to be seen whether or not the two sides can agree on a transfer fee for the England international. West Ham’s interest in the player, though, shows that they have ambitious plans for the forthcoming season.