West Ham look on as interest from Man Utd sees Southampton place huge asking price on Ward-Prowse

Southampton have placed a £75m price tag on in-demand England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, claims a report.

The free-kick expert had a brilliant season for Saints with 11 goals and eight assists from 42 games.

The Saints skipper also took his free-kick tally to 14 and he has his hero David Beckham’s 18-goal haul from free-kicks well within his sights.

It’s that offering from set-pieces which Ward-Prowse provides that has got a number of Premier League clubs chasing him.

Aston Villa were very keen on landing the player last summer. Dean Smith’s side made a bid of £25m for the 27-year-old. But Southampton turned the offer down and labelled it “derisory”.

Ralph Hassenhuttl then managed to tie down their skipper to a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2025. They also agreed to pay the Portsmouth-born star to a deal worth £100,000 a week.

That extension though has not discouraged interest in the 11-cap England man.

Newcastle and West Ham are keen with Givemesport claiming David Moyes “is a big fan of Ward-Prowse”.

West Ham have ‘definite interest’ in Ward-Prowse

The Hammers are said to be mulling over a bid, but Ward-Prowse will not come cheap.

His long-term deal means that the south-coast club have got his value covered and reported interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will only drive the price up.

That has led Saints to put a £75m price tag on Ward-Prowse.

The source claim West Ham have “definite interest” in the player, but the finances of the deal may well see them look elsewhere.

There’s no doubt that Ward-Prowse dead ball expertise would be welcomed at the London Stadium. And he will be a good foil for the likes of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, but if the Hammers want more value for their money they will look in Europe.

Moyes has already added Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes for £30m.

Aguerd, 26, is a similar age to Ward-Prowse and has been capped 19 times. But came at less than half the asking price of the England man.