Latest reports in the media suggest that Saints are looking at bringing an ex Saint to St Mary's after the change of manager at the Hammers has left him out in the cold.

One man who would not have been pleased to see Nuno Espirito Santo appointed first team coach at West Ham United is James Ward-Prowse.

JWP;s time at West Ham has been rather up and down, after an average first season after joining the club from Southampton, he found himself surplus to requirements at the London Stadium and sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest, but his early games did not impress the Nuno and he was soon a bit part players, indeed in his final 3 months at the club out of 12 Premier League games he appeared in just 3, all of the bench totalling 18 minutes, convincing Nuno that he was not a player who fitted into the way he set out his teams and went back to the Hammers in January 2025 with his loan spell cut short.

He established himself back at West Ham and this season started the first 5 Premier League games, but then Nuno arrived and for the trip to Everton he found himself not only not in the side, but not even travelling with the squad for the trip to Merseyside.

Journalist Andrew Dillon on givemesport.com has revealed not only the extent of his isolation, but also that it seems that Southampton are ready to make moves to take him back to St Mary's.

Dillon claims that "Nuno has confirmed to Ward-Prowse that he has no future at West Ham and it is unlikely that he will be allowed anywhere near the first-team squad for training," a situation that will now leave the player training alone for the next 3 months.

He also says that "the 30-year-old, who is on a contract worth £115,000-per-week before bonuses, did not have an argument with Nuno when he was told that he is not in the former Nottingham Forest chief's plans following his appointment and he took the news professionally."

So in January it seems that Ward-Prowse will depart West ham, although on £115k per week and a contract that still has 21 months left to run this is likely to be a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer.

Turning 31 in just a months time and having not trained properly or played a game of any sort by the time the January window opens will leave him short of offers from the Premier League that will match his current deal.

Also West Ham struggling in a relegation battle at the moment are going to be loathe to loan him to anyone in the bottom half of the Premier League.

So it seems that the latest rumour is that he will be loaned out in January and if it is to the Championship, Saints are one of the few clubs who will be able to offer West Ham a decent deal that will cover his wages.

So there is a long way to go on this one with Ward-Prowse twiddling his thumbs for three months, but it will be interesting to see in January where Saints lie in the table and as they did two seasons ago with David Brooks & Joe Rothwell whether they will look for loans from Premier League clubs.

All Photos Via Reuters

IanRC added 14:40 - Oct 1 I would like to see us back with us just so he can beat Beckham’s record but quite expensive if we cover his wages.
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Bazza added 15:12 - Oct 1 Apart from Beckhams record what has Ward Prowse got to offer?
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allsaint54 added 15:57 - Oct 1 No, no, no. Lets move forward not sideways & backwards.
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DellBoyWally added 16:11 - Oct 1 Probably the same lazy reporter who said Ings was re-signing! Beckham's record was PL goals!! JWP has had plenty of opportunities but lost the ability. Rather like Armstrong. Not the player he was 2 years ago as we saw on loan at WBA. If Stewart is going to continue in this vein I'd rather Archer alongside him with proper wingers, not a LW/RW/CF hodgepodge who is weaker at all 3 positions

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SaintPaulVW added 16:49 - Oct 1 I'd take KWP back in a heartbeat , JWP - I don't see how he would fit in, Downes and Charles have the DM role sewn up and can't be doing with another sideways pass merchant.
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WestSussexSaint added 19:39 - Oct 1 We have Downes, Charles and Jander in that position and I would say all are potentially better than JWP right now. He was a good servant to the club but unless the current 3 have an injury crisis then it’s time to move on.
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onetowatch added 09:33 - Oct 2 Whether this rumour has traction or not, this is an option we MUST SAY NO TO!! It would be such a backward step. JWP always had an issue with pace and presence - Romeo wasn't quick, but still made it very difficult for anyone to get round him, JWP couldn;t do that. At 31, that situation would not have improved. As mentioned in the last couple of contributions above, CM is the one area we have no problem currently, the 3 main contender for 2 positions are far more able than JWP. Despite JWPs great attitude and integrity, that's the sad truth!!

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onetowatch added 09:37 - Oct 2 PS, completely agree with St Paul, if WHU wanted to discuss KWP, then that's completely different....unfortunately though, that's not going to happen..
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mgprobert added 09:40 - Oct 2 £115k per week for another 21 months, without having to play? - I could not play for half that :)
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underweststand added 14:32 - Oct 2 Well, who couldn't see this story coming? Changing managers always leaves someone on the beach, and even 100K /week is no compensation for those wanting to play every week. Contributors on here have created a MARMITE situation with 49% thinking he was a waste of space and only good for his fantastic free-kicks (which they seldom praised, along with a fairly good record of converting penalties), whilst those who looked at stats. noted he covered most ground every match and rarely missed games. His ability to play almost anywhere on the right was obvious, although he was landed with the sh*tty end of the stick when taking up the DM role after Romeu left and the club failed to replace Orry. Once Gareth Southgate's Golden Boy in the England U21, he captained the team and played over 30 times but was unsurprisingly dumped by GS after he got the England job. Like all England managers before him, he surrendered to the hostile TV media types who make or break a manager if he fails to meet their expectations or favourite player choices. Compare Prowsey's stats with Grealish's, (who cost Man City £ 100 million), and after he got found out, now City can't get rid of him. Prowsey's move to West Ham was his last chance of making the World Cup squad that followed. Once again Southgate ignored him and pathetic England barely took a decent free kick, or corner in the whole competition. I feel sorry for JWP (even with his big salary). No-one doubts his loyalty to Saints (15 years - man and boy) but like Lallana before him, he deserved a good move to a better side and it didn't happen, and (like AL) he was criticised for his ambition by those who felt he should stay and rot in the club regardless of our status. and so ..should we get him back? If we are in a Top Six position by mid January, it would be a no-brainer to ignore the opportunity to loan him back - even for the last 20 games, and make a decision afterwards.

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