Southampton suffer James Ward-Prowse transfer twist as Burnley take West Ham action | OneFootball

Burnley are keen on a deal to sign James Ward-Prowse this January

Burnley are set for talks to sign James Ward-Prowse from West Ham amid interest from Southampton.

According to Sky Sports (12.34), the Clarets are keen on signing the midfielder this month in a bid to improve their chances of survival against relegation.

The Clarets are 19th in the Premier League table, and are at risk of sliding back into the Championship at the first time of asking after gaining promotion last year.

Scott Parker’s side are eight points adrift of safety and have until 2 February to bolster their chances of remaining in the top flight.

Ward-Prowse’s future has been the subject of speculation following his fall down the pecking order under Nuno Espirito-Santo, with his last appearance coming on 20 September.

Burnley to compete with Southampton for James Ward-Prowse

Burnley are planning talks with West Ham for the signing of Ward-Prowse following this weekend’s fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

Southampton have been linked with a move to bring the midfielder back to St. Mary’s, and will have to step up their interest this month in order to prevent his switch to Turf Moor.

An ACL injury to key figure Josh Cullen has led to Parker’s team needing reinforcements in midfield, but no progress is expected on their interest in the 31-year-old until the weekend.

Cullen is set to miss the rest of the campaign, and has been a crucial part of the Clarets’ first team squad, so a replacement will be needed in order to aid their survival bid.

Meanwhile, Southampton are eyeing promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt after they were relegated in 2025.

Tonda Eckert’s side moved to within seven points of the play-offs with a win over Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Next up for the Saints is a south coast derby clash against Portsmouth on 25 January in a 12pm kick-off.

James Ward-Prowse return could be tricky

There is an obvious appeal in bringing Ward-Prowse back to Southampton given how important he was to the club for a whole decade.

But the option of remaining in the Premier League with Burnley for the second half of the season will still be tempting.

If Southampton were in a strong position to fight for promotion, then perhaps they could persuade Ward-Prowse to step down to the Championship, but the play-offs remain a long shot at this time.

The cost of bringing him back to St. Mary’s may also prove tricky, although someone of his experience and quality would surely be welcome in Eckert’s side.