Nottingham Forest are eyeing a move for West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse before the summer transfer window closes, according to Football Insider.
The Hammers have made a solid start to their Premier League season, recovering from their 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa with an impressive 2-0 triumph at Crystal Palace last Saturday.
One individual who has had to accept being a bit-part player in those two matches is Ward-Prowse, however, with the 29-year-old limited to just 16 minutes of action to date.
It looks as though Julen Lopetegui doesn’t consider the Englishman a key part of his plans after replacing David Moyes as manager, which could pave the way for a summer exit.
A new update has emerged regarding Ward-Prowse’s future, with Football Insider claiming that Forest are keen on signing him in the next few days, following a long-term injury blow to midfielder Danilo.
He isn’t part of Lopetegui’s rebuild, “following their big-money transfer splurge this summer”, and could therefore complete a switch to the City Ground.
Losing Ward-Prowse would be a shame for West Ham, in terms of the squad depth he provides and the set-piece mastery he possesses, being lauded by Moyes when he was in charge of the Hammers:
“James Ward-Prowse is world class. He is the best around and has been for a long time. Two assists today, he’s got nine all season in all comps, more than any other Premier League player, it’s a nightmare for defenders. He is the best around and has been for a long time.”
That being said, if Lopetegui doesn’t see him as a key man moving forward, it would be best for all parties if a move elsewhere can be agreed, allowing him more regular playing time.
At 29, the 11-cap England international is likely to want that, and Forest could benefit greatly from bringing in such a talented midfielder – one with so much technical ability in his locker from free-kicks.
If Ward-Prowse ends up staying at West Ham beyond Friday, it certainly shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing, but cashing in now makes sense, with his current deal expiring in 2027.
