Andy Townsend has backed Aston Villa to sign James Ward-Prowse from Southampton and claimed that he is a ‘very talented’ player, as he told talkSPORT.
The Villa legend added that teams need players like Ward-Prowse in their team given that he can play various roles.
With Jack Grealish heading towards the exit door, Villa still have to get on with their own business and it seems as though Ward-Prowse is one of the names on their list.
Townsend shared his thoughts on those rumours and Ward-Prowse’s qualities as a player.
“Those free-kicks that he hits are an asset to any team,” said Townsend. “And for the sort of money, he would potentially go for.
“If it was somewhere around £25-30 million, by today’s standards, I think that would represent for an experienced and very talented player.
“He’s not the sort of guy that comes into your squad and he’s going to get everyone at the edge of your seats.
“He’s just a proper player to have in your squad and in your camp. He can play in a number of different positions. That sort of lad ‘yeh, I will go and play there if I have to’. You need people like that.”
Villa have already signed one Southampton player in Danny Ings – and it’s fair to say his capture left many by surprise yesterday.
But could his teammate swap the South Coast for the West Midlands too?
Villa could do with his qualities in the middle of the park, his ability to turn over possession, be aggressive in his press, play in a two or three-man midfield, his defensive intelligence and that quality from set-piece situations.
However, just like Villa found with their own boyhood fan and academy product, it’s not going to be easy for Southampton to part ways with one of their own just like that.
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