Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to completely forget about the possibility of signing Southampton star James Ward-Prowse this summer, despite calling the player ‘incredible’.
The Lowdown: Spurs monitoring Ward-Prowse
The 27-year-old still has four years remaining on his current contract with the Saints after signing an extension last year, which is set to keep him at the St. Mary’s Stadium until at least 2026.
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However, due to his recent impressive run of form, the midfielder has been attracting plenty of interest, and according to a transfer update published by the Daily Star, it’s claimed that the north London outfit are monitoring Ward-Prowse.
The Lilywhites are allegedly considering a move for him during the upcoming window, but are set to face competition from fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.
The Latest: Robinson’s doubts
When asked after that transfer update whether he thinks the ten-cap international could fit into the Spurs starting XI, Robinson told Football Insider: “I’m not so sure about Ward-Prowse.
“Make no mistake about it, his set-pieces are incredible. But I am yet to be convinced about his all-round game.
“Yes, he stands out in a Southampton team but could he stand out in a Spurs team? Could he take Spurs to the next level? Which is competing regularly in the Champions League. I’m not sure he could, if I’m honest. I’d be looking elsewhere.”
The Verdict: Perfect creative outlet
The £100k-per-week ace, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by his Saints teammate Oriol Romeu, definitely has the ability to shine in Antonio Conte’s side, and could be the missing piece of the puzzle to give them that creativity in the middle of the park that they have been so desperately lacking.
Ward-Prowse has had a huge influence on the pitch under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, having scored ten goals and provided eight assists in all competitions for Southampton, as per Transfermarkt, not to mention the fact that David Beckham is the only player to have netted more direct free-kicks than him in Premier League history.
As the Italian boss looks to reassemble his squad ahead of the start of the 2022/23 campaign, two new midfielders are believed to be on his wishlist this summer, and so he could be tempted to bolster his ranks with the maestro in a bid to push for a place in the Champions League and beyond next season.
In other news… Spurs are said to be eyeing up a move for a ‘fantastic’ new transfer target.