Southampton’s 11-year stay in the Premier League ended when they were beaten 2-0 by Fulham at St Mary’s. The Saints look set to finish bottom of the pile after a disastrous season under three different managers. And James Ward-Prowse could soon become available for transfer after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
The Saint’s squad is filled with stars that are Premier League pedigree and other clubs will be waiting to pounce once the transfer window re-opens. The 28-year-old – who is also a free-kick specialist and has scored eight times in the Premier League this season – needs top-flight football to force his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
James Ward-Prowse transfer news
As a result of Southampton’s struggles, Liverpool have been tipped to shop at St. Mary’s once again after an already expensive South Coast outlay in the last decade. Liverpool have scouted James Ward-Prowse this season ahead of a potential summer move as the Reds look to revamp their midfield. It is not the first time they have been linked with the Southampton skipper, where he had previously been looked at in the summer of 2021.
The Reds have been opportunists in the past when it comes to shopping at relegated clubs. They signed Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle United (£25m) and Andy Robertson from Hull City (£10m) in the summers of 2016 and 2017 respectively. The following year, they activated a £13.5m relegation release clause in Xherdan Shaqiri’s Stoke City contract in the, before snapping up Harvey Elliott at the end of his Fulham contract in 2019 – with a £4.3m compensation package eventually decided by tribunal.
Southampton are relegated from the Premier League 🚨#Southampton #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/h1qdwkkdaq
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) May 13, 2023
Aston Villa were also keen to sign Ward-Prowse in the summer transfer window of 2021 before eventually admitting defeat when the midfielder penned a new deal with Southampton. Villa saw a bid of £25million for Ward-Prowse rejected by Saints.
Southampton will demand around £50m for their club captain, who is the subject of interest from several top-flight sides. Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and sporting director Dan Ashworth are both huge fans of Ward-Prowse. The Magpies are being kept informed of the player’s developing situation on the south coast, though their summer business hinges on their final position in the standings – Newcastle currently sit in the top four and are on course to qualify for the Champions League.
Ward-Prowse is also just one goal from a direct free-kick away from tying David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18. This makes his transfer away from Southampton all the more inevitable.
Other Southampton players that could leave St. Mary’s
A number of other players could follow James Ward-Prowse in leaving Southampton in the summer of 2023. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Romeo Lavia are just some of the young stars that could seek pastures new after the Saints’ relegation was confirmed.
James Ward-Prowse might still decide to stay at St. Mary’s and etch his legendary status at the club, although some of the other stars will not take a step back in their careers. Especially when you take into account that youngsters like Lavia and Bella-Kotchap were in such high demand in the summer of 2022.
Whatever happens, Southampton will bounce straight back into the Premier League, and such assurances to the current squad might just help them retain all their star players.