Southampton will consider offers for James Ward-Prowse this summer, but only at the right price.
After 11 seasons in the Premier League, Southampton were relegated from the top-flight this term, finishing bottom of the league and collecting just 25 points.
Saints captain James Ward-Prowse never missed a match, making him the Southampton player with the most appearances for the fourth time in five seasons.
The 28-year-old midfielder has won 11 England caps since making his international debut in 2017 and has previously been linked with a raft of clubs including Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Rasmus Ankersen, founder of club owners Sport Republic and previously director of football at Brentford, admitted he will listen to offers for the Southampton star this summer.
He told The Times: “Of course, we would love to keep him. He is Mr Southampton, he’s done amazing things.
“He will be in demand. If there is something that comes up that satisfies the club financially and satisfies James, then out of respect we will have to have that conversation.”
“It would be selfish to say, ‘we have a contract’, and not fair to him,” added Dragan Solak, the Serbian media mogul who has been Sport Republic’s lead investor since 2022. “If he can play Champions League football next season, then that would be great for him. We have to see who will approach us.”
Ward-Prowse has been at Southampton since he was eight years old, but Standard Sport recently revealed that West Ham manager David Moyes is an admirer and the club lead the charge for his signature.
The Hammers want to bring in two central midfielders this summer, with their own captain, Declan Rice, set to leave for a fee which could be north of £100million.
Ward-Prowse is famed for his artful free-kick-taking ability, as well as his long passing and ability to rotate play. He narrowly missed out on England’s Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup squads.
