According to a report in the Telegraph, Saints are quoting £50 million for the sale of their midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
Southampton’s relegation means they will get offers for a number of their first-team players and James Ward-Prowse is the pick of the lot.
The England international is still one of the top-rated midfielders in the Premier League and clubs like Newcastle United, Spurs, Aston Villa and West Ham United are all interested in signing him.
The Saints academy graduate has played over 400 games for the club and a player like him definitely belongs in the top tier. He’s had 108 goal involvements for the senior side but with a price tag of £50 million, we seriously doubt if any of the interested clubs will make any concrete moves to sign him.
Will the Saints be able to hold onto James Ward-Prowse?
It is very evident that the Saints have put such a massive price tag just to make sure that no club is interested but what they also need to keep in mind is that they will need money to rebuild their squad.
There’s no way they will hold onto their full squad and most of the existing players won’t fetch much value.
Ward-Prowse is a top player but he’s surely not worth £50 million which is why Newcastle United are already having second thoughts over spending so much on someone who is going to be 29 in November.
West Ham United want the Saints midfielder as a replacement for Declan Rice but there’s no way they will spend £50 million-plus on a single player.
In theory, Tottenham are the only team who can afford to pay such a steep price but that will depend on the strategy of their new manager.
If a club is really ready to match Southampton’s asking price then there’s no way they will be able to resist a sale but right now, it’s very hard to see James Ward-Prowse returning to the Premier League next season.
