What is the transfer value of Man Utd & Arsenal target James Ward-Prowse?

FT Desk

• Updated: 1 May 2022 18:31 BST
• 4 min read

England international James Ward-Prowse has been attracting interest from the Premier League's biggest clubs after his excellent performances for Southampton.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and the newly-rich Newcastle have all been linked with a bid for the talented 27-year-old in recent months.

City boss Pep Guardiola described Ward-Prowse as the best set-piece specialist in the world earlier this season, and he now has four free-kick goals to his name following Southampton's recent 2-2 draw with Brighton.

A one-club man, Ward-Prowse is from a family of Portsmouth supporters, but he has been in Southampton's academy since the age of eight and made his full debut with the club at 16.

Now the owner of more than 350 appearances for the Saints in all competitions, Ward-Prowse has been a fixture in their side since the 2013/14 campaign.

Long since tasked with taking all set pieces at St Mary's, Ward-Browse replaced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as club captain in June 2020, a midfield motor leading by example.

With his four free-kicks scored this season, Ward Prowse only has David Beckham ahead of him for set-pieces scored in English top-flight history (18 vs. 13), and he looks set to surpass that record in the coming seasons.

Ward-Prowse may only stand at 5'8", but this is a player who once secretly trained at Havant & Waterlooville in order to toughen up, and who can operate in defensive and attacking midfield, as well as on the wing and at right-back.

A full England international since 2017, Ward-Prowse was on the Three Lions' provisional squad list for UEFA Euro 2020 but had to watch on from the sidelines as they made the final - losing to Italy - having not made the final cut.

He was in the most recent squad, for friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast, though, and can be optimistic of making the squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this winter - flourishing at a Champions League club would surely make that unavoidable.

Guardiola is certainly a fan, whether or not Ward-Prowse ends up at the Etihad.

"They have the best free-kick taker I have seen in my life in Ward-Prowse," he told the BBC after a City draw with Southampton in December 2020.

For a man who played with Gheorghe Hagi and Hristo Stoichkov at Barcelona, and later coached Lionel Messi, it is high praise indeed.

What is Ward-Prowse's transfer value?

According to the Daily Star, Ward-Prowse could cost as much as £60m (€72m) should Southampton decide to sell.

FootballTransfers values Ward-Prowse at €41m.

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