Report: West Ham bid £20m for midfielder

Whilst many were expecting a West Ham bid for Denis Zakaria this week, it appears another midfielder may be back on our radar. Whilst the name of the linked player may be predictable, the fee is far lower than expected.

James Ward Prowse has been associated with West Ham for the best part of 12 months. However his expected transfer fee has significantly dropped from an eye watering £70m in that time.

It was expected that any potential suitors would have to pay as much as £40m for the Saints midfielder. The depreciation is to be expected following the South Coast clubs relegation, but West Ham intend to go lower.

Because The Mail Online are reporting this afternoon that West Ham will halve their offer for Ward Prowse. Southampton are bracing themselves for a low-ball £20m bid for their captain.

Whilst I’ve been somewhat underwhelmed by the links to Ward Prowse, he would be a bargain at £20 million. At 28 years of age the player has little or no resale value, so his initial price was prohibitive.

The prospect of West Ham spending the entirety of their Declan Rice yield on Ward Prowse and Palhinha has concerned me. The Hammers will get one chance to either invest or waste the Rice bounty. The thought of spending £100m on two players approaching their thirties does not seem prudent.

However, £20m for a decent Premier League midfielder would represent decent value. It would also presumably keep David Moyes happy in what may be his final year as manager.

Understandably Moyes contract length will have him thinking short-term. But funds must be made available for Tim Steidten to plan for the future.