According to various media sources James Ward Prowse is under scrutiny from both Chelsea and Manchester City but the bg question is why ?
James Ward Prowse is an emerging talent in the Premier league, Captain of the England U21 side for this season and tipped for a full cap sooner than later, indeed today HITC Sport are running a story saying
"Chelsea and Manchester City are both keeping regular tabs on Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the mooted interest.
Ward-Prowse, the new England Under-21 captain, is making fine strides on the South Coast at St Mary’s.
With nearly 100 first-team games under his belt, he is already emerging as one of the best young English prospects in the Premier League."
But why are these big clubs interested in Ward Prowse ? whilst he in indeed an emerging talent he would not be considered an automatic choice in the Saints side unlike some of the players that have recently come through the academy and been sold for big bucks.
Since making his League debut for Saints in the opening game of the 2012/13 season JWP has only managed a total of 38 starts in the Premier League plus another 40 appearances as substitute.
That is a good total for someone who will not be 21 till November of this year, but it is not the stats of a player who is considered a first team regular.
It cannot be denied he is great talent but as of yet he has not tuned that potential into consistent form that deands that he be picked.
The problem is just where do you play him ? he has yet to define one role as his forte, his passing and shooting ability suggest that he could be a number 10 as they say in the modern game, but he has not turned that ability into end product as of yet, his delivery to create chances is not consistent enough especially from dead ball situations and so far he has only one goal to his name in the league and that was a penalty against Hull City last season.
Most Saints fans will tell you that now is a crucial time for JWP, he needs to start to impose himself on games, take them by the scruff of the neck and be the difference between a draw and a win, but he has yet to do that.
In the last home game against Norwich City he showed signs that he might be starting to do just that, however a week later at West Brom he was average at best.
This makes it all the stranger as to why City & Chelsea should be interested, indeed why they should be leaking that interest, if JWP cannot be first choice in a Saints side, where would he be in the pecking order at either of those clubs.
There is no doubt that James ward Prowse is a player of Premier League qulity, the only question is what sort of career will he have, will he make that step up at St Mary's and be spoken of in the same tone as allana & Schniederlin once were, will he stay at the same level as he is now, a good squad player, will he go to a big club and they find his true calling, or will he go to a big club and disappear like a number of young hopefuls have done over the last decade.
Every Saints fan hope that he finds his form at Saints and that he goes on to emulate some of the greats that have come through our academy, he has the ability, perhaps he just needs to find the confidence.