Southampton are reportedly considering a move to reel James Ward-Prowse back into the fold from West Ham, according to recent reports. The 31-year-old departed the club where he began his footballing journey to join the Hammers after their drop from the Premier League in 2023.
However, his time at East London has fallen short of what was hoped. Over three seasons at West Ham, Ward-Prowse has been loaned out to both Nottingham Forest and Burnley, and has only managed to feature in two of the club's three competitive matches so far this campaign.
Nevertheless, The Athletic indicate that Southampton are actively weighing up a return transfer for the player they originally nurtured. The Saints, currently managed by the contentious head coach Tonda Eckert, are looking to bolster their midfield options now that Shea Charles has moved on to Fulham.
Ward-Prowse's connection to Southampton runs deep. He joined the club's academy at just eight years old, broke through to make his senior debut at 16 back in 2011, and went on to become a cornerstone of the first team — amassing 410 appearances and finding the net 55 times for the St. Mary's side.