Burnley are preparing a surprise January move for West Ham United midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who has been completely exiled from the first-team picture at the London Stadium.
Nuno Santo Exiles Experienced Midfielder
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has made it clear that James Ward-Prowse has no future at the club under his leadership. The 31-year-old, who boasts an impressive 409 Premier League appearances, has not featured in a single matchday squad since the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace back in September. Reports from The Athletic this week suggest the situation has deteriorated further, with the player now training alone after initially being part of group drills.
Burnley See Opportunity in Relegation Battle
This unexpected availability has alerted Burnley, who are desperate to add top-flight experience to their squad in a fierce battle to avoid the drop. Clarets boss Scott Parker has openly expressed his desire for new signings this month. The two clubs are direct relegation rivals, separated by just one place and three points in the table. A move for Ward-Prowse would therefore carry significant risk for West Ham, potentially strengthening a direct competitor.
Ward-Prowse started the first five league games of the season under former manager Graham Potter but has never played a minute for Nuno. Their difficult relationship dates back to their time together at Nottingham Forest, where the Portuguese coach also dropped the midfielder. West Ham paid £30 million to sign him from Southampton in 2023, and he still has 18 months remaining on his contract.
Transfer Would Solve Problems for Both Clubs
For Burnley, Ward-Prowse represents a proven Premier League operator with vast experience, far exceeding that of their current youthful options in the centre of the park. For West Ham, a sale would remove a high-earning player from the wage bill who is not contributing on the pitch, albeit with the aforementioned sporting risk.
Speaking about Burnley's transfer plans ahead of facing Liverpool, manager Scott Parker said: "We're hoping to, [make signings] for sure. There's a willingness from owners. There's a willingness from everyone to try and add some quality... But we're active, or at least we're trying to do that. It's always a tough window, this window."
The coming weeks will reveal whether this audacious cross-league move materialises, in a deal that could have major implications at the bottom of the Premier League.
