Southampton: £100k-a-week star has 'handcuffed himself' at St Mary's

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has “handcuffed” himself at St Mary’s after signing a new five-year contract last August, says talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Englishman is currently being linked with some of the biggest clubs in the country, but Crook has his doubts about a transfer taking place this summer due to him not having a release clause in his current deal.

At the start of the month, The Sun claimed that Manchester United’s new boss Erik ten Hag wants to bring Ward-Prowse to Old Trafford.

The same outlet states that United’s rivals Manchester City are also fans of the 27-year-old, who could potentially cost £75m in the upcoming transfer window.

It is not just the two Manchester clubs who seem to be interested in Ward-Prowse, however.

According to the Daily Star, Tottenham, Arsenal and Newcastle United are also keen, so the Southampton captain clearly has quite the fan club right now.

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While a lot of outfits seemingly want Ward-Prowse this summer, Crook thinks he has handcuffed himself at Southampton after signing that new £100,000-week long-term deal last year.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the talkSPORT reporter said: “Ward-Prowse, he’s handcuffed himself a bit in the way that Wilfried Zaha has at Palace because he signed a contract, six-figure salary, Southampton’s highest-paid player ever, with no release clause.

“Unless someone’s going to pay £75m, there’s no desire on Southampton’s part to sell him, and it’d be difficult for him to force his way out having signed such a long-term deal.”

Trapped probably is not the word you would use, as Ward-Prowse clearly loves Southampton, his boyhood club. However, if he does want to leave, there does not