West Ham have THIRD transfer bid worth £30m rejected for Declan Rice replacement as chiefs threaten to look elsewhere
WEST HAM have seen a £30million bid for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse rejected.
The Hammers have been frustrated by the Saints’ refusal to budge from their £40million asking price for the England midfielder.
And they are again threatening to move on to other targets.
Championship side Southampton – who begin their season at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday – have now rejected three transfer offers from West Ham but expect talks to continue.
The latest package offered by West Ham was £27million up-front with £3million in add-ons which have been described by one source as “very achievable.”
Hammers boss David Moyes is pushing for the deal to get done, with the Scot desperate to add players with previous Premier League experience in this window.
West Ham are yet to sign a single player following the £105million sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
Moves for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges have already failed this summer, while they are considering Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
Personal terms between Ward-Prowse and the east Londoners are all but agreed with the set-piece specialist keen on the move.
The 28-year-old has been with Southampton since the age of eight.
DREAM TEAM IS LIVE – JOIN NOW TO BATTLE FOR THE £50k TOP PRIZE
But he wants to remain in the Premier League and still has hopes of returning to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The Saints understand his position and are ready to sanction a deal, but only at their asking price, meaning West Ham must go higher.
New director of football Jason Wilcox has stood firm on valuations this summer, knocking back two offers from Liverpool for Romeo Lavia, the latest at £41million, as they fall short of their £50million asking price.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and confirmed switches from the world of football