West Ham look on as interest from Man Utd sees Southampton place huge asking price on Ward-Prowse

Southampton have placed a £75m price tag on in-demand England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, claims a report.

The free-kick expert had a brilliant season for Saints with 11 goals and eight assists from 42 games.

The Saints skipper also took his free-kick tally to 14 and he has his hero David Beckham’s 18-goal haul from free-kicks well within his sights.

It’s that offering from set-pieces which Ward-Prowse provides that has got a number of Premier League clubs chasing him.

Aston Villa were very keen on landing the player last summer. Dean Smith’s side made a bid of £25m for the 27-year-old. But Southampton turned the offer down and labelled it “derisory”.

Ralph Hassenhuttl then managed to tie down their skipper to a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2025. They also agreed to pay the Portsmouth-born star to a deal worth £100,000 a week.

That extension though has not discouraged interest in the 11-cap England man.

Newcastle and West Ham are keen with Givemesport claiming David Moyes “is a big fan of Ward-Prowse”.

The Hammers are said to be mulling over a bid, but Ward-Prowse will not come cheap.

His long-term deal means that the south-coast club have got his value covered and reported interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will only drive the price up.

That has led Saints to put a £75m price tag on Ward-Prowse.

The source claim West Ham have “definite interest” in the player, but the finances of the deal may well see them look elsewhere.

There’s no doubt that Ward-Prowse dead ball expertise would be welcomed at the London Stadium. And he will be a good foil for the likes of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, but if the Hammers want more value for their money they will look in Europe.