3 Premier League clubs that must attempt to sign James Ward-Prowse in the summer

James Ward-Prowse is making the lonely trip down to the Championship with Southampton set for a rock-bottom finish in the Premier League this season. The longtime club captain came through the Southampton youth team before being promoted to the main squad in 2011.

The 28-year-old, however, needs to force a way out of the club this summer. His stock has never been higher after scoring eight Premier League goals this season, including three free kicks. Ward-Prowse is an excellent set-piece taker and box-to-box midfielder.

Here are three clubs that should seriously consider trying to sign James Ward-Prowse this summer.

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#3. West Ham United

Declan Rice has been linked with a move away from West Ham for years now, and with the Englishman's contract expiring in the summer of 2024, it's time for the Hammers to cash in. Rice has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, and the Gunners will have to pay in excess of £100 million for the midfielder.

Manuel Lanzini's contract expires this summer with no signs of a renewal. Thomas Soucek and Pablo Fornals' deals are set to end next summer. West Ham needs a midfielder to pair alongside Lucas Paqueta. The Hammers have always been potent in the air and James Ward-Prowse is a set piece genius. This is a move that West Ham must attempt to make in the summer.

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#2. Tottenham Hotspur

The dreadful Tottenham Hotspur season is now finally almost at its closing. After an embarrassing loss to Brentford, the prospect of no European football next season is still possible. Pierre-Emile Hojberg plays almost every game for the club but does not have a partner often because of Bentacur's injuries.

The new Tottenham manager needs to start from scratch as the club could lose its leading goalscorer Harry Kane in the summer. James Ward-Prowse is within Tottenham's budget and is more than good enough to walk into that starting XI. Tottenham have the most goals from corners and headers this Premier League season and Ward-Prowse is electric delivering a ball in.

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#1. Liverpool

Liverpool has just confirmed that Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be leaving the club in the summer. Liverpool fans have been vocal about their discontent with the club for not singing more midfielders, as they will almost certainly miss out on Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool and Southampton have done numerous deals together over the years, just look at Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk for example. Liverpool should look to the Saints once more and land James Ward-Prowse. Thiago could walk from the club when his contract expires next year and Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have lost their spark.

Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot have shown signs of life this season, but the Reds desperately need bodies in the midfield and Ward-Prowse will be a tremendous addition to their ranks. The Englishman would also be a better fit for the club's budget than top target Alexis Mac Allister. Ward-Prowse would also love to link up with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.