West Ham United Technical Director Tim Steidten does not want the club to pay £40 million for Southampton James Ward-Prowse, according to a report.
The Guardian has reported that Southampton want £40 million from West Ham United for midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham’s latest bid for the midfielder is £30 million.
The Guardian has claimed that the Hammers’ new Technical Director, Steidten, does not want the club to pay the £40 million that the Saints want for Ward-Prowse in the summer transfer window.
“Steidten has been looking for cheaper players in Europe and is understood to be blocking higher bids for Ward-Prowse,” states the report.
West Ham manager David Moyes has reportedly made Ward-Prowse “a key target”, but it is Steidten who does not want the London club to pay over the odds for Ward-Prowse, who was described as a “gifted midfielder” by former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks on BBC Sport in February 2022.
West Ham United should not pay £40m for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse
In our opinion, West Ham United should not pay £40 million for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
That is too much to pay for a 28-year-old midfielder who will play in the Championship next season.
Yes, Ward-Prowse has extensive experience in the Premier League and is a free-kick specialist.
But, you have to wonder that if the midfielder were really that good, then a big club would have snapped him up already.
And, other than West Ham, no club are making bids for the Englishman.
We have no doubt that Ward-Prowse would make West Ham better and would be an asset to manager David Moyes.
However, West Ham should not pay over the odds and should not simply cough up £40 million for the midfielder.
Ward-Prowse has made 343 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
The midfielder has scored 49 goals and given 38 assists in those games.
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