Aston Villa have been encouraged in their attempts to sign Southampton star James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Praised by the best…
We first heard of Villa’s interest in Ward-Prowse a day after the club agreed a deal for Emiliano Buendia.
Reports in the middle of June suggested that owners Wes Edens and Naseef Sawiris would back a big-money move and wanted to seal a deal in time of the club’s return for pre-season training.
The 26-year-old, who scored two free-kicks against Villa last season, was hailed by Pep Guardiola as the best free-kick taker he has seen in his life, and it seems as if Villa are still keen on the set-piece specialist.
The Latest: Source shares update
According to Football Insider, who were informed by a recruitment source, Villa are now readying a bid for the Saints captain.
That will come after other parts of their transfer jigsaw fall into place, with Villa given third-party indications that Ward-Prowse is keen on a move to the Midlands.
The England international is impressed with the club’s ambition and views a potential move to Villa Park as an upgrade on the Saints.
The Verdict: It could take another club-record fee…
It’s good to know that Edens and Sawiris are willing to throw their financial might behind a move for Ward-Prowse, as it could well take another club-record fee to bring him to the club.
Villa spent £34.56m on Buendia earlier this summer, with his Transfermarkt valuation at the time standing at £19.8m.
Ward-Prowse currently holds a £27m valuation on the same site and still has a whopping four years remaining on his St Mary’s deal.
On that basis, the Saints may not want to sell unless an eye-catching offer comes in, and you’d expect that would have to be over £35m.
In other news: ‘Good mates with Jack’ – Many AVFC fans erupt as transfer comments emerge on ‘quality’ 25 y/o, find out more here.