James Ward Ward Prowse should perhaps be seeing some big warning signs about joining West Ham United and it could be that the one off transfer saga could be off as it has been revealed that the Hammers may be about to reopen talks with their first choice target Scott McTominay from Manchester United.
West Ham United seem to be in a lot of internal conflict with David Moyes transfer strategy at odds with the Hammers new Director of football Tim Steidten as to just whom they should be signing, JWP is Moyes man and Steidten thinks he is a little too old and overpriced, West Ham's owner David Sullivan is caught in the middle.
Now Hammers News have reported that the journalist that is closest to David Sullivan Sean Whestone, is claiming that the Hammers have now reopened talks with Manchester United for Scott McTominay and that if they can come to an agreement it is the United man they will go for and drop their interest in Ward Prowse.
Whetstone has tweeted:
"Big Twist in the James Ward Prowse deal emerges, it appears that West Ham are still in talks with Manchester United over Scott McTominay and the Hammers will either sign James Ward Prowse or Scott McTominay in the next 72 hours but not both. Neither will be signed in time for Bournemouth"
Whetstone is seen by West Ham fans as a confidant to David Sullivan and if he says something it usually has good foundations.
So it could be that James Ward Prowse will still be a Southampton player on Saturday and could be leading the Saints out against Norwich City on Saturday.
But the fact that even as the deal is about to be done, the Hammers are undecided and backtracking should ring alarm bells for Ward Prowse, he will be very much David Moyes signing and Moyes job is far from secure, although he won the European Conference League, it papered over a few cracks, a late run saw them avoid relegation by only 6 points and with the disagreements with Steidten, a poor start to the season could seem him one of the first managerial casualties in the Premier League.
That could see JWP cast into footballing limbo and he has seen that at first hand with James Bree at Saints being very much a Nathan Jones signing and after his sacking rarely getting a game.
No one can blame Ward Prowse for wanting to get back into the Premier League, but no one wants to see him waste his talent, we would prefer to see him help us back to the top flight, but we are realistic and appreciate his reasons for wanting to leave, whatever happens we wish him all the best and hope that he goes to a club where he can flourish.
Ralph Hasenhuttl famously said when Danny Ings left that "No one wants to be a club legend anymore" the warning signs are there for James Ward Prowse.