Fulham have reportedly entered the race for James Ward-Prowse, as they’ll rival West Ham United, who are looking to replace the departing Declan Rice.
The exit of Rice was going to hit the Hammers hard whenever it happened. The club captain, who is also the best player, leaving the club is obviously a big blow.
That blow could be softened if they recruit right after his departure, though. With the £105million they’re set to receive, they could both replace him and pick up a few other useful assets in other positions.
A few options have been mooted, one of those being Southampton captain Ward-Prowse. That the Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season suggests he’ll more than likely be sold, as the chances of him playing in the Championship are negligible.
But West Ham will receive competition from Fulham for the snare. Football Insider reports the Hammers are waiting for confirmation of the Rice deal before fully pursuing Ward-Prowse.
In the meantime, they could slip behind Fulham, who have made enquiries about a potential deal, as per that report. Southampton are said to be ‘willing to wait for a suitable offer to arrive’.
If Fulham make that offer first, there’s no reason to suggest they shouldn’t be able to get the deal over the line ahead of the Hammers.
However, the East Londoners will receive a small fortune when Rice’s sale is officially confirmed. And with Southampton apparently holding out for ‘top money’, they might well be anticipating a better offer from the Hammers than from Fulham.
In the event that the latter succeeds, while West Ham may lose out on Ward-Prowse, they could have the last laugh. Indeed, they’ve reportedly identified Cottagers midfielder Joao Palhinha as a suitable replacement for
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