David Moyes in aggressive West Ham transfer demand for James Ward-Prowse as Southampton stand firm

David Moyes is pressing West Ham United to reach an agreement with Southampton over the transfer of James Ward-Prowse.

The Scot – who led the London club to a first trophy in 43 years in June – is understood to want Ward-Prowse in his squad by the end of this week in order to prepare for West Ham's English Premier League opener at Bournemouth in 11 days' time. Though West Ham are cash rich following the sale of Declan Rice to city rivals Arsenal for an English record initial transfer fee of £100million, the Europa Conference League winners have yet to reinforce Moyes' first-team squad.

Every other Premier League club has made at least one senior signing. Moyes has asked West Ham's recently appointed technical director Tim Steidten for two new midfielders, and regards Ward-Prowse as a guaranteed source of Premier League goals and assists. The England international has scored, or been credited with an assist on, 89 goals across 343 top-tier appearances for Southampton.

Broadly considered to be English football's most accomplished dead-ball specialist, Ward-Prowse has steadily increased that return across his 11 Premier League campaigns, delivering 43 goals and assists in the last three seasons. Moyes has also been impressed with the midfielder's resilience to injury, the 28-year-old starting 150 of Southampton's last 152 League games.

In addition to proven on-field performance, Moyes believes that Ward-Prowse's professionalism and leadership qualities are of extra importance following the sale of his captain, Rice. In discussions with the Scottish manager, Ward-Prowse is understood to have expressed his enthusiasm for a move to the London Stadium – if West Ham are able to agree financial terms with Southampton, the