According to the Daily Mail, it is probable that West Ham United will finalize deals for England internationals Harvey Barnes and James Ward-Prowse in the upcoming summer, relays the WHZ.
David Moyes is expected to have a substantial transfer budget, particularly with the anticipated sale of Declan Rice for around £100 million. In his Transfer Confidential column for the Daily Mail, journalist Simon Jones stated that the departure of the 24-year-old midfielder would significantly impact the club’s transfer targets for the summer.
He wrote: “West Ham’s recruitment department are still going over plans and deals for prospective targets such as James Ward-Prowse and Harvey Barnes are likely to be agreed later in the summer.”
As Rice’s departure from the London Stadium appears increasingly likely this summer, Moyes will prioritize strengthening various areas of his first-team squad. Ward-Prowse emerges as the most probable candidate to fill the 24-year-old’s role in midfield, not only for his goal-scoring ability but also for his expertise in set pieces, which is highly valued by the West Ham team.
The Hammers have excelled in set-piece situations over the past two seasons, benefiting from the aerial presence of players like Tomas Soucek, Kurt Zouma, and Angelo Ogbonna. Additionally, there is a pressing need to find replacements for Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals in more advanced positions on the field, and Harvey Barnes fits the profile of a potential signing. Despite playing for a Leicester City side that was relegated to the Championship, the English winger impressively scored 13 goals in the Premier League, finishing as the club’s top scorer.