After a 3 year hiatus at West Ham United with a couple of diversions to Nottingham & Burnley, James Ward Prowse is said to be on the cusp of a Prodigal Son type return to St Mary's.
Saints might announce the signing of Keven Schlotterbeck either on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, but it is likely to be quickly followed by the news that James Ward Prowse is again a Saint.
There will be some that will not be happy about that, but i think he could be just what we need, as a squad we lack leadership and if Taylor Harwood- Bellis leaves then I will be blunt and say that Jack Stephens is not a leader of men and JWP could add that to the squad.
At 31 he is no spring chicken, but his fitness levels will have the boost that since leaving Saints he has played just 99 games in all competitions for West Ham, Nottingham Forest & Burnley, over half of them in his first season at The London Stadium.
That means that he has not taken as much punishment to his body as most still playing at his age.
He will bring versatility to the squad as he is able to play either in midfield or at right back, hence the rumour that Mads Roerslev may be allowed to leave.
More to the point he has unfinished business here and perhaps feels that he owes us something after his last full season.
It should be noted that he did play in the first game of 2023/24 season at Sheffield Wednesday and helped us to a 2-1 win that day, call him what you want, but unlike many modern day players, he didn't say his head wasn't in the right place etc, that a lot do these days to avoid playing and getting injured when they are nearing a move.
So I cannot see why anyone would have a problem with Ward Prowse's return to the club, I am told that it is a free transfer, West Ham are willing to terminate his contract in order to get his not insubstantial salary off the books and that he is taking a big drop in wages to get the deal done.
I am told that this deal is quite near completion, but as with all transfers sometimes they don't get over the line for one reason or another.