Liverpoolwill not be able to signSouthamptonmidfielderJames Ward-Prowsefor £25m, believes transfer insider and journalistDean Jones.
The Reds ɾєρօɾτedly want the 28-year-old in a cut-price Ԁєɑł following the Saints’ relegation to the Championship, but Jones says they are not ρłɑɴning on holding a “garage sale” this summer.
According to theMailOnline,Liverpoolwould be open to signing Ward-Prowse for £25m.
However, the same outlet states thatSouthamptonwant £50m and that the Merseyside club are now prepared to wait for them to drop their asking price.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has identified midfield as an area of his squad that needs to be strengthened.
He has already managed to sign Alexis Mac Allister, bringing the World Cup winner in from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £35m Ԁєɑł (viaBBC Sport).
What has Dean Jones said aboutJames Ward-Prowseand Liverpool?
When asked whetherSouthamptonshould entertain the idea of selling Ward-Prowse toLiverpoolfor just £25m, Jones told GIVEMESPORT:”They shouldn’t be. I knowLiverpoolare looking for value, butSaintsaren’t holding a garage sale here.
“They’re not desperate to get rid of everything they own all of a sudden. They will only do a Ԁєɑł that’s going to benefit them in terms of getting back.”
Why areLiverpoolinterested in James Ward-Prowse?
As mentioned earlier, Klopp is on the lookout for new midfielders and Ward-Prowse is a Premier League-proven one.
As perTransfermarkt, the Englishman has made over 300 appearances in the competition. He is also extremely dangerous from set-pieces.
“There is no better taker,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was quoted as saying byBBC Sportlast year when talking about Ward-Prowse. “Southampton have the best free-kick taker I have ever seen, or at least he is in the world right now.”
What Klopp probably appreciates about theSaintscaptain most, though, is his work off the ball. As perFBref, the England international has ranked in the 83rd percentile for interceptions among midfielders over the last year.
For such an energetic team likeLiverpool, Ward-Prowse could be a smart addition. However, it would be a bit of a surprise if they were able to get him for £25m.
