West Ham hold positive talks over Southampton captain James-Ward Prowse; Conor Gallagher also on radar but has two years left on his Chelsea deal and Mauricio Pochettino sees him as part of the squad; Hammers held talks with Scott McTominay but there is gap in valuation with Man Utd
Wednesday 2 August 2023 08:32, UK
West Ham have held positive talks with Southampton over the signing of midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
One source has told Sky Sports News an agreement is edging closer, and personal terms are not expected to be a problem.
The Hammers have already seen a £40m bid for Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher rejected.
The 23-year-old has two years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and it is believed Chelsea would be open to extending it.
Any potential departure would likely have to be driven by Gallagher himself, with West Ham thought to be weighing up whether to go in with an improved offer.
The England midfielder is on Chelsea's tour of the USA and scored in the 4-3 win over Brighton on Sunday. As it stands, boss Mauricio Pochettino is planning for him to be part of the squad next season.
Sky Sports News understands Chelsea value him well in excess of £40m.
Gallagher and Ward-Prowse are two of a number of midfielders West Ham are looking at following the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m. They would ideally like to sign two replacements in the position.
West Ham have held initial talks with Manchester United over the signing of Scott McTominay, but the early suggestions are that there is a gap in valuation for the Scotland international.
Sky Sports News has been told Man Utd see McTominay as a top player and very important member of the squad. For them to even consider a sale, it would require a "very big offer".
The Hammers also had a £45m bid rejected by Fulham for Joao Palhinha, and remain keen on Juventus' Denis Zakaria, Monaco's Youssouf Fofana and Edson Alvarez from Ajax.
Harry Maguire is being closely monitored by clubs in the Premier League and abroad, with West Ham among those interested in the England international.
The Hammers are thought to be exploring the option of either a loan or a permanent deal for the 30-year-old defender, who was recently told he would no longer be Man Utd captain and may look to move elsewhere.
However, they are aware wages could prove to be a problem if a deal was to be agreed between the clubs.
United manager Erik ten Hag has always maintained any decision will effectively rest with the player, who is contracted to the club until the summer of 2025.
Who will be on the move this summer when the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
