Friday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 16 Jan 2026, 11:15
BBC
Aston Villa want to seal a permanent deal for England striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma. The 28-year-old spent 2018-19 on loan at Villa and helped them earn promotion to the Premier League. (Times - subscription required), external
Manchester United are growing increasingly confident they will sign Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, 22, from Brighton in the summer. (Sun), external
Juventus have made an inquiry about signing France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, from Crystal Palace this month as they seek a long-term replacement for Serbia attacker Dusan Vlahovic, 25. (Sky Sports), external
Inter Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina are all contenders to move for Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire, 32, in January. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external
Nottingham Forest and Brazil defender Murillo, 23, is being considered by Manchester United as they look for a long-term Maguire replacement. (Mail), external
Chelsea want to bring in a defender this window with Bournemouth's Argentina international Marcos Senesi, 28, among several targets. (Talksport), external
Manchester United caretaker head coach Michael Carrick is keen to sign Middlesbrough's English midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham. (Teamtalk), external
Valencia have approached Brentford about the availability of 28-year-old Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka. (Sky Sports), external
West Ham look set to miss out on Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, 23, after Wolfsburg submitted a bid of £15.6m for the Englishman. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Italy and Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, 26. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external
England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could look to secure a loan exit if his playing time at Manchester United does not improve this month, with Napoli leading the race for the 20-year-old. (Star), external
Crystal Palace and Brighton are competing with Celtic and Norwich for Dundalk's 17-year-old Irish defender Vinnie Leonard. (Football Insider), external
Aston Villa could move for Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Dani Ceballos, 29, after missing out on signing Conor Gallagher. (Talksport), external
Tottenham are exploring options to sell Argentine striker Alejo Veliz, 22, who is currently on loan at Rosario Central and are in talks with Brazilian club Bahia. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Galatasaray, Napoli, Juventus and clubs in Saudi Arabia are monitoring Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 32, who is in the final year of his deal with Manchester City and yet to agree an extension. (Caught Offside), external
Wolves are hoping to beat a host of Premier League rivals to two Scottish teenagers - Dundee United striker Kai Hutchinson, 15, and 17-year-old Aberdeen midfielder Cooper Masson. (Teamtalk), external
Sheffield United have registered their interest in England midfielder Ross Barkley, 32, who is struggling for regular game time at Aston Villa. (Football Insider), external
Chelsea have joined Liverpool and Manchester United in the hunt for 17-year-old Sheffield Wednesday left-back Yisa Alao, who made his Owls debut last weekend. (Sheffield Star, external)
Wednesday are closing in on the loan signings of Man City midfielder Jaden Heskey, 20, and QPR keeper Murphy Cooper, 24, who has been on loan at League One Barnsley. (Alex Miller, external)
Portsmouth have agreed a fee of £500k for Derby County's Gambian midfielder Ebou Adams, 30. (The News, external)
Norwich City are set to battle Celtic, Brighton and Crystal Palace for 17-year-old Dundalk defender Vinnie Leonard who impressed for the Republic of Ireland in the under-17 World Cup. (Football Insider, external)
Oxford United have seen a £500k bid for 22-year-old Reading and Wales midfielder Charlie Savage turned down. (Pete O'Rourke, external)
Sky Paper Talk
PREMIER LEAGUE
Murillo is among the players being considered by Manchester United as they seek a new central defender for next season, with the Brazilian open to leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer - Daily Mail
Bruno Fernandes is planning to see out the season with Manchester United despite the recent upheaval at Old Trafford - The Sun
Man Utd are growing increasingly confident of signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in the summer - The Sun
Chelsea are ready to make a move for a new defender in the remaining weeks of the January transfer window and give Liam Rosenior a boost to his start as the club's new head coach - The Telegraph
Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez - L'Equipe
Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Tammy Abraham after beating rival clubs with the offer of a long-term contract that demonstrates Unai Emery's faith in the England striker - The Times
Lewis Miley has been the subject of watching eyes from the stands of late, with England scouts checking on Newcastle's teenage sensation - Daily Mail
Football's lawmakers will look to intensify a crackdown on time-wasting next week by considering a referee's countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks - The Times
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Rangers' long-serving captain James Tavernier has emerged as a target for Rafael Benitez, who is in charge at Greek giants Panathinaikos - Daily Mail
Hearts have made a fresh approach to Vardar FK about landing AWOL Uganda winger Rogers Mato this month - The Scottish Sun
Aberdeen striker Peter Ambrose is set for a return to Hungary - Daily Record
RUGBY UNION
Harlequins are interested in speaking to Scott Robertson, who was sacked as the All Blacks head coach on Thursday only two years into his four-year contract - The Times
England are facing a crisis at tighthead prop after Asher Opoku-Fordjour was ruled out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury that requires surgery - The Telegraph
CRICKET
England face being without Rehan Ahmed for the start of their pre-T20 World Cup tour to Sri Lanka amid delays to his and Adil Rashid's visas - The Telegraph
GOLF
Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf no longer poses the threat it once did to the traditional tours, saying that its Saudi paymasters will now have to spend "hundreds of millions" just to ensure it does not fall even further behind in the game's civil war - The Telegraph
Guardian Rumour mill
John Brewin
This year, as with last year, Aston Villa are eyeing the January market to bolster their forward line. For Marcus Rashford in 2025, read Tammy Abraham in 2026. Roma own his registration, though he is now on loan at Besiktas. He was a fan favourite when on loan from Chelsea in Villa’s Championship days, so such a move would be something of a homecoming. Another Villa target is Dani Ceballos, the midfielder once of Arsenal, and a useful Real Madrid squad player for years now.
To compound Crystal Palace’s FA Cup misery, and the unsettling tidings on Oliver Glasner’s future, there’s the rumour that Jean-Philippe Mateta is a target for Juventus.
He fought his way back into Ruben Amorim’s reckoning but now there is fresh doubt over Harry Maguire’s Manchester United future. There are a few takers, too, should he fancy a move in January. And all in Serie A, with Napoli, Inter and Fiorentina thinking he can do some damage. United are said to be considering Nottingham Forest’s Murillo as a permanent option. With Michael Carrick in situ for now, there’s talk he may move for Hayden Hackney, one of his best players when they were working together at Middlesbrough. Tottenham also fancy Hackney, and much may depend on whether Kobbie Mainoo is restored to the United midfield. Napoli would fancy a loan move for him.
A long-term United midfield project is Carlos Baleba, back at Brighton after the Africa Cup of Nations, and the subject of interest last summer.
There’s been wild talk Chelsea might sign a senior defender, rather than a youngster, and the player linked is Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi. Can the Cherries really be selling another asset? Money may well dictate that they have to. That’s a January move but there’s speculation in France that Enzo Fernández may fancy joining Paris Saint-Germain as he is not happy Enzo Maresca was removed so unceremoniously.
Another Chelsea player on the move may be Filip Jörgensen, the keeper who has lost out to Robert Sánchez, and West Ham fancy him as one of their potential saviours in their battle against relegation. Further Hammers targets are Bobby Thomas, Coventry’s central defender, Jamaal Lascelles at Newcastle and Bright Arrey-Mbi of Braga.
To continue the midfielders on the move theme, that Bernardo Silva, one of the very best players of the Manchester City golden era, is out of contract, has alerted a few suitors. Galatasaray, Napoli and Juventus are linked and the Saudi Pro League is a further option.
And James Tavernier, Rangers’ skipper, may be set for a move to work with Rafa Benítez, who now coaches Panathinaikos.
The Athletic
James Ward-Prowse and his internal exile at West Ham
Richard Pelham/Getty Images
By Roshane Thomas
When James Ward-Prowse arrives at West Ham United’s training hub in Rush Green, he does so knowing he will have no involvement in certain sessions.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who joined for £30million from Southampton in August 2023 and has made 409 appearances in the Premier League, has not featured in a West Ham matchday squad since Nuno Espirito Santo succeeded Graham Potter as head coach on September 27. And this exile extends to one drill on the training ground.
The Athletic has spoken to sources with knowledge of West Ham’s training, who, like all of those spoken to for this article, asked to be kept anonymous unless otherwise noted, to protect relationships. Nuno leads and oversees all sessions, with support from coaching staff Mark Robson, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville. Those spoken to said that training sessions are often split into two groups: the starting XI and the fringe players, the latter of which Ward-Prowse is part of.
The two groups do not train together until there is an 11-v-11 session but, according to sources close to the dressing room, at this point, Ward-Prowse is not allowed to feature and has to train by himself.
On the morning of Nuno’s appointment, two days before the 1-1 draw against Everton, training was cancelled, given the sudden managerial change, and rescheduled for the afternoon. Ward-Prowse must have feared the worst, given an ill-fated loan spell at Nuno’s Nottingham Forest last season. It was supposed to last the whole 2024-25 campaign but was cut short in January 2025. He had made 10 appearances but only five of those were starts.
Sources with knowledge of the conversations say that before Nuno’s first session at Rush Green, he greeted his players and then informed Ward-Prowse privately that he did not feature in his plans. Dressing-room sources add that in the past three and a half months, Ward-Prowse has not been banished to the under-21s or sulked around the training ground. He has remained professional, which Nuno has acknowledged publicly at a press conference in November.
Ward-Prowse and Nuno’s representatives were approached for comment by The Athletic.
“It’s just decisions and I’ve been honest with all the players,” said Nuno before the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool on November 30. “All the players are committed and working hard. It’s not an easy situation, but believe me, making the squad and deciding is tough. But we decide for the best. He’s (Ward-Prowse) been professional and very good (during this time).”
There is sympathy among the players, according to those close to them, for the former England international. Given their perilous league position, with the club seven points from safety, supporters have asked questions over his absence. In defeats to Brentford and Leeds United in October, Nuno fielded the unconvincing midfield pairing of Tomas Soucek and Andy Irving, while Guido Rodriguez, a player who has made just four league appearances this season, started the 1-1 away draw to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ward-Prowse’s exclusion has also seen academy prospect and fellow midfielder Mohamadou Kante feature on the bench. The 19-year-old made his first-team debut in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Midfield trio Mateus Fernandes, the £38m summer signing from Southampton, Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa have formed a solid partnership but only have a combined total of two assists in 49 league appearances this season.
In Ward-Prowse’s debut season under ex-manager David Moyes, the midfielder registered seven goals and 11 assists across 51 appearances. He arrived in summer 2023, when West Ham needed midfielders. Declan Rice had just left for Arsenal for £105million. Edson Alvarez also joined from Ajax for £35m. The Athletic reported in February last year that, when it came to Ward-Prowse, according to sources with knowledge of the deal, ex-technical director Tim Steidten and Moyes were initially divided. Steidten preferred the Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, but Moyes disagreed.
Moyes saw the benefit in Ward-Prowse immediately, and it is hard to look past his strong crossing ability. In his absence, the club have lacked attacking threat on set pieces, having only scored seven this season, the seventh-lowest total in the top flight. In 2023-24, West Ham scored 14 goals from set pieces, with Ward-Prowse assisting six via corners.
The midfielder memorably scored an ‘olimpico’ (direct goal from a corner) against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 2024. Other highlights include his two assists on his debut against Chelsea in August 2023 and a goal against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the 2-1 win in December 2023.
Ward-Prowse has converted 17 direct free kicks in the Premier League and is one away from equalling David Beckham’s record of 18. His last came for Southampton in February 2023. Ward-Prowse has previously spoken about Beckham being a childhood hero, and the appeal of surpassing his record could determine his next landing spot.
“The situation with James is clear from some time ago,” said Nuno in his pre-match press conference before their extra-time FA Cup third-round win over Queens Park Rangers. “I think he is not in the options, and it’s for us to find the best solutions for his future.”
Ward-Prowse has worked under four different managers in Moyes, Julen Lopetegui, Potter and Nuno. Potter enjoyed working with the midfielder and kept him in his starting XI, despite scrutiny from fans over Ward-Prowse’s poor run of form. He started league games against Southampton, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Potter told Sky Sports in September. “He’s got an understanding of the game. He’s an experienced player with different attributes. He helps us in and out of possession and also with the group in terms of being a leader and a person who is well respected. I think he plays a fantastic role for us.”
But whether or not Nuno sees the positives in Ward-Prowse, he is still not making it onto the pitch — or into games in training.
This has been Ward-Prowse’s life since late September, and he must be hoping it changes at some point this month.
Aston Villa want to seal a permanent deal for England striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma. The 28-year-old spent 2018-19 on loan at Villa and helped them earn promotion to the Premier League. (Times - subscription required), external
Manchester United are growing increasingly confident they will sign Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, 22, from Brighton in the summer. (Sun), external
Juventus have made an inquiry about signing France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, from Crystal Palace this month as they seek a long-term replacement for Serbia attacker Dusan Vlahovic, 25. (Sky Sports), external
Inter Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina are all contenders to move for Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire, 32, in January. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external
Nottingham Forest and Brazil defender Murillo, 23, is being considered by Manchester United as they look for a long-term Maguire replacement. (Mail), external
Chelsea want to bring in a defender this window with Bournemouth's Argentina international Marcos Senesi, 28, among several targets. (Talksport), external
Manchester United caretaker head coach Michael Carrick is keen to sign Middlesbrough's English midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham. (Teamtalk), external
Valencia have approached Brentford about the availability of 28-year-old Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka. (Sky Sports), external
West Ham look set to miss out on Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, 23, after Wolfsburg submitted a bid of £15.6m for the Englishman. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Italy and Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, 26. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external
England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could look to secure a loan exit if his playing time at Manchester United does not improve this month, with Napoli leading the race for the 20-year-old. (Star), external
Crystal Palace and Brighton are competing with Celtic and Norwich for Dundalk's 17-year-old Irish defender Vinnie Leonard. (Football Insider), external
Aston Villa could move for Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Dani Ceballos, 29, after missing out on signing Conor Gallagher. (Talksport), external
Tottenham are exploring options to sell Argentine striker Alejo Veliz, 22, who is currently on loan at Rosario Central and are in talks with Brazilian club Bahia. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Galatasaray, Napoli, Juventus and clubs in Saudi Arabia are monitoring Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 32, who is in the final year of his deal with Manchester City and yet to agree an extension. (Caught Offside), external
Wolves are hoping to beat a host of Premier League rivals to two Scottish teenagers - Dundee United striker Kai Hutchinson, 15, and 17-year-old Aberdeen midfielder Cooper Masson. (Teamtalk), external
Sheffield United have registered their interest in England midfielder Ross Barkley, 32, who is struggling for regular game time at Aston Villa. (Football Insider), external
Chelsea have joined Liverpool and Manchester United in the hunt for 17-year-old Sheffield Wednesday left-back Yisa Alao, who made his Owls debut last weekend. (Sheffield Star, external)
Wednesday are closing in on the loan signings of Man City midfielder Jaden Heskey, 20, and QPR keeper Murphy Cooper, 24, who has been on loan at League One Barnsley. (Alex Miller, external)
Portsmouth have agreed a fee of £500k for Derby County's Gambian midfielder Ebou Adams, 30. (The News, external)
Norwich City are set to battle Celtic, Brighton and Crystal Palace for 17-year-old Dundalk defender Vinnie Leonard who impressed for the Republic of Ireland in the under-17 World Cup. (Football Insider, external)
Oxford United have seen a £500k bid for 22-year-old Reading and Wales midfielder Charlie Savage turned down. (Pete O'Rourke, external)
Sky Paper Talk
PREMIER LEAGUE
Murillo is among the players being considered by Manchester United as they seek a new central defender for next season, with the Brazilian open to leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer - Daily Mail
Bruno Fernandes is planning to see out the season with Manchester United despite the recent upheaval at Old Trafford - The Sun
Man Utd are growing increasingly confident of signing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in the summer - The Sun
Chelsea are ready to make a move for a new defender in the remaining weeks of the January transfer window and give Liam Rosenior a boost to his start as the club's new head coach - The Telegraph
Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez - L'Equipe
Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Tammy Abraham after beating rival clubs with the offer of a long-term contract that demonstrates Unai Emery's faith in the England striker - The Times
Lewis Miley has been the subject of watching eyes from the stands of late, with England scouts checking on Newcastle's teenage sensation - Daily Mail
Football's lawmakers will look to intensify a crackdown on time-wasting next week by considering a referee's countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks - The Times
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Rangers' long-serving captain James Tavernier has emerged as a target for Rafael Benitez, who is in charge at Greek giants Panathinaikos - Daily Mail
Hearts have made a fresh approach to Vardar FK about landing AWOL Uganda winger Rogers Mato this month - The Scottish Sun
Aberdeen striker Peter Ambrose is set for a return to Hungary - Daily Record
RUGBY UNION
Harlequins are interested in speaking to Scott Robertson, who was sacked as the All Blacks head coach on Thursday only two years into his four-year contract - The Times
England are facing a crisis at tighthead prop after Asher Opoku-Fordjour was ruled out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury that requires surgery - The Telegraph
CRICKET
England face being without Rehan Ahmed for the start of their pre-T20 World Cup tour to Sri Lanka amid delays to his and Adil Rashid's visas - The Telegraph
GOLF
Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf no longer poses the threat it once did to the traditional tours, saying that its Saudi paymasters will now have to spend "hundreds of millions" just to ensure it does not fall even further behind in the game's civil war - The Telegraph
Guardian Rumour mill
John Brewin
This year, as with last year, Aston Villa are eyeing the January market to bolster their forward line. For Marcus Rashford in 2025, read Tammy Abraham in 2026. Roma own his registration, though he is now on loan at Besiktas. He was a fan favourite when on loan from Chelsea in Villa’s Championship days, so such a move would be something of a homecoming. Another Villa target is Dani Ceballos, the midfielder once of Arsenal, and a useful Real Madrid squad player for years now.
To compound Crystal Palace’s FA Cup misery, and the unsettling tidings on Oliver Glasner’s future, there’s the rumour that Jean-Philippe Mateta is a target for Juventus.
He fought his way back into Ruben Amorim’s reckoning but now there is fresh doubt over Harry Maguire’s Manchester United future. There are a few takers, too, should he fancy a move in January. And all in Serie A, with Napoli, Inter and Fiorentina thinking he can do some damage. United are said to be considering Nottingham Forest’s Murillo as a permanent option. With Michael Carrick in situ for now, there’s talk he may move for Hayden Hackney, one of his best players when they were working together at Middlesbrough. Tottenham also fancy Hackney, and much may depend on whether Kobbie Mainoo is restored to the United midfield. Napoli would fancy a loan move for him.
A long-term United midfield project is Carlos Baleba, back at Brighton after the Africa Cup of Nations, and the subject of interest last summer.
There’s been wild talk Chelsea might sign a senior defender, rather than a youngster, and the player linked is Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi. Can the Cherries really be selling another asset? Money may well dictate that they have to. That’s a January move but there’s speculation in France that Enzo Fernández may fancy joining Paris Saint-Germain as he is not happy Enzo Maresca was removed so unceremoniously.
Another Chelsea player on the move may be Filip Jörgensen, the keeper who has lost out to Robert Sánchez, and West Ham fancy him as one of their potential saviours in their battle against relegation. Further Hammers targets are Bobby Thomas, Coventry’s central defender, Jamaal Lascelles at Newcastle and Bright Arrey-Mbi of Braga.
To continue the midfielders on the move theme, that Bernardo Silva, one of the very best players of the Manchester City golden era, is out of contract, has alerted a few suitors. Galatasaray, Napoli and Juventus are linked and the Saudi Pro League is a further option.
And James Tavernier, Rangers’ skipper, may be set for a move to work with Rafa Benítez, who now coaches Panathinaikos.
The Athletic
James Ward-Prowse and his internal exile at West Ham
Richard Pelham/Getty Images
By Roshane Thomas
When James Ward-Prowse arrives at West Ham United’s training hub in Rush Green, he does so knowing he will have no involvement in certain sessions.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who joined for £30million from Southampton in August 2023 and has made 409 appearances in the Premier League, has not featured in a West Ham matchday squad since Nuno Espirito Santo succeeded Graham Potter as head coach on September 27. And this exile extends to one drill on the training ground.
The Athletic has spoken to sources with knowledge of West Ham’s training, who, like all of those spoken to for this article, asked to be kept anonymous unless otherwise noted, to protect relationships. Nuno leads and oversees all sessions, with support from coaching staff Mark Robson, Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville. Those spoken to said that training sessions are often split into two groups: the starting XI and the fringe players, the latter of which Ward-Prowse is part of.
The two groups do not train together until there is an 11-v-11 session but, according to sources close to the dressing room, at this point, Ward-Prowse is not allowed to feature and has to train by himself.
On the morning of Nuno’s appointment, two days before the 1-1 draw against Everton, training was cancelled, given the sudden managerial change, and rescheduled for the afternoon. Ward-Prowse must have feared the worst, given an ill-fated loan spell at Nuno’s Nottingham Forest last season. It was supposed to last the whole 2024-25 campaign but was cut short in January 2025. He had made 10 appearances but only five of those were starts.
Sources with knowledge of the conversations say that before Nuno’s first session at Rush Green, he greeted his players and then informed Ward-Prowse privately that he did not feature in his plans. Dressing-room sources add that in the past three and a half months, Ward-Prowse has not been banished to the under-21s or sulked around the training ground. He has remained professional, which Nuno has acknowledged publicly at a press conference in November.
Ward-Prowse and Nuno’s representatives were approached for comment by The Athletic.
“It’s just decisions and I’ve been honest with all the players,” said Nuno before the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool on November 30. “All the players are committed and working hard. It’s not an easy situation, but believe me, making the squad and deciding is tough. But we decide for the best. He’s (Ward-Prowse) been professional and very good (during this time).”
There is sympathy among the players, according to those close to them, for the former England international. Given their perilous league position, with the club seven points from safety, supporters have asked questions over his absence. In defeats to Brentford and Leeds United in October, Nuno fielded the unconvincing midfield pairing of Tomas Soucek and Andy Irving, while Guido Rodriguez, a player who has made just four league appearances this season, started the 1-1 away draw to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ward-Prowse’s exclusion has also seen academy prospect and fellow midfielder Mohamadou Kante feature on the bench. The 19-year-old made his first-team debut in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Midfield trio Mateus Fernandes, the £38m summer signing from Southampton, Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa have formed a solid partnership but only have a combined total of two assists in 49 league appearances this season.
In Ward-Prowse’s debut season under ex-manager David Moyes, the midfielder registered seven goals and 11 assists across 51 appearances. He arrived in summer 2023, when West Ham needed midfielders. Declan Rice had just left for Arsenal for £105million. Edson Alvarez also joined from Ajax for £35m. The Athletic reported in February last year that, when it came to Ward-Prowse, according to sources with knowledge of the deal, ex-technical director Tim Steidten and Moyes were initially divided. Steidten preferred the Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, but Moyes disagreed.
Moyes saw the benefit in Ward-Prowse immediately, and it is hard to look past his strong crossing ability. In his absence, the club have lacked attacking threat on set pieces, having only scored seven this season, the seventh-lowest total in the top flight. In 2023-24, West Ham scored 14 goals from set pieces, with Ward-Prowse assisting six via corners.
The midfielder memorably scored an ‘olimpico’ (direct goal from a corner) against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 2024. Other highlights include his two assists on his debut against Chelsea in August 2023 and a goal against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the 2-1 win in December 2023.
Ward-Prowse has converted 17 direct free kicks in the Premier League and is one away from equalling David Beckham’s record of 18. His last came for Southampton in February 2023. Ward-Prowse has previously spoken about Beckham being a childhood hero, and the appeal of surpassing his record could determine his next landing spot.
“The situation with James is clear from some time ago,” said Nuno in his pre-match press conference before their extra-time FA Cup third-round win over Queens Park Rangers. “I think he is not in the options, and it’s for us to find the best solutions for his future.”
Ward-Prowse has worked under four different managers in Moyes, Julen Lopetegui, Potter and Nuno. Potter enjoyed working with the midfielder and kept him in his starting XI, despite scrutiny from fans over Ward-Prowse’s poor run of form. He started league games against Southampton, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Potter told Sky Sports in September. “He’s got an understanding of the game. He’s an experienced player with different attributes. He helps us in and out of possession and also with the group in terms of being a leader and a person who is well respected. I think he plays a fantastic role for us.”
But whether or not Nuno sees the positives in Ward-Prowse, he is still not making it onto the pitch — or into games in training.
This has been Ward-Prowse’s life since late September, and he must be hoping it changes at some point this month.