10 July 2023 , 16:46
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Arsenal are close to completing a record-breaking move for Declan Rice, with the Gunners set to fork out a whopping £105m to sign the England international.
That will make Rice the Premier League's most expensive British player, eclipsing the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish back in 2021. And Rice's move to Arsenal could end up having a major effect on their rivals' transfer plans.
West Ham will need to sign a replacement for Rice, particularly given their European commitments, and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse has been heavily linked following the Saints' relegation to the Championship.
The Daily Mail report that Southampton expect West Ham to make an approach for Ward-Prowse this week, with the 28-year-old valued at around £40m. The Hammers, however, are said to be hopeful of completing a deal for closer to £20m.
The report states that West Ham want to sign Ward-Prowse and a 'more physical holding midfielder', with former Chelsea loanee Denis Zakaria and Leeds' Tyler Adams named as potential options. It is also claimed that while Southampton are hoping to bank £100m from selling players this summer, they do not want to let both Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia go in the same transfer window.
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As a result, if West Ham sign Ward-Prowse following Rice's departure then it could have an impact on Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea's transfer plans. All three clubs have been heavily linked with Lavia following an impressive first season at Saint Mary's.
Southampton are said to value Lavia at around £50m and Arsenal are also interested in the youngster. Ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott played alongside Lavia last season and hailed the midfielder's "mad" potential back in January.
If West Ham sign James Ward-Prowse to replace Declan Rice, Southampton will look to block Romeo Lavia from leaving (Getty Images)Mirror Football is now on Threads!
"I'm a big fan," he told talkSPORT. "He's obviously had a few injuries but he's coming back. He's young, he's 18/19 when he's off the field but when he's on the field, it's mad. It's like he's played over 200 games in the Premier League, that's how much I rate him.
"It's very interesting to see, watching him from the stands, obviously it looks so easy from the stands, it always does. You probably know that watching us, 'he should make that run or make that pass', it's not as straightforward as that, but when I watch him, I'm like 'you look way above your age right now'.
"It's a good sign and hopefully we can keep him fit. They are all learning, but in particular he's learning quicker than normal I would say."