EFL Championship club Southampton will reportedly look to re-sign 28-year-old English midfielder James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United in the winter transfer window.
According to a report by Give Me Sport, James Ward-Prowse is the subject of interest from Southampton. The Saints are keen on reinforcing their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder in the winter transfer window. So, the 30-year-old West Ham United outcast has emerged as a target for the EFL Championship club.
Recent reports have revealed that the Englishman has no future at West Ham United, as Nuno Espirito Santo has no plans for him. The newly-appointed West Ham manager excluded Ward-Prowse from the matchday squad for the game against Everton earlier this week, and the former Southampton captain will barely feature for the East London outfit in the coming weeks.
James Ward-Prowse and his West Ham United woes
James Ward-Prowse has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining West Ham United from Southampton in a deal worth £30 million in August 2023. The 28-year-old arrived at the London Stadium with hopes and aspirations after spending two decades with the Saints. However, the player has struggled to stamp his authority during his spell with the East London outfit.
The English midfielder has chipped in with eight goals and 12 assists in 73 appearances thus far for West Ham. However, Ward-Prowse has no future at the East London club after Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Graham Potter. The situation has piqued the attention of Southampton, with the EFL Championship club keen on re-signing him in the winter transfer window.
St. Mary’s return on the horizon?
Southampton’s interest in James Ward-Prowse is understandable. The Saints are scouring the market for a versatile midfielder heading into the winter transfer window to bolster their hopes of securing promotion to the Premier League in the second half of the 2025/26 season.
Will Still’s men have been slow off the blocks in the 2025/26 season, and they are eight points behind Middlesbrough after managing only two wins thus far. So, Southampton must dip into the market for a midfielder, with Ward-Prowse emerging as a viable target.
The 28-year-old Englishman should not take long to land on his feet if he returns to St. Mary’s, having spent two decades with the Saints and served the EFL Championship outfit as the club captain before moving to West Ham United. It will be interesting to see if a fairytale homecoming is on the cards for Ward-Prowse.