---
title: "Aston Villa: Ward-Prowse update emerges"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ward-prowse-update-emerges/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-07-02T17:31:31Z"
modified: "2021-07-02T17:31:31Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ward-Prowse update emerges

**Aston Villa have been encouraged in their attempts to sign Southampton star James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-major-update-on-aston-villa-bid-to-sign-ward-prowse-from-southampton/).**

### The Lowdown: Praised by the best…

We first heard of Villa’s interest in [Ward-Prowse a day after the club agreed a deal for Emiliano Buendia](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/06/aston-villa-set-to-make-move-for-southamptons-james-ward-prowse-transfer-window).

[Reports](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-stepping-up-plan-to-lure-ward-prowse/) in the middle of June suggested that owners Wes Edens and Naseef Sawiris would back a big-money move and wanted to seal a deal in time of the club’s return for pre-season training.

The 26-year-old, who [scored two free-kicks against Villa last season](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54679346), was [hailed by Pep Guardiola as the best free-kick taker he has seen in his life](https://www.goal.com/en-au/news/the-best-free-kick-taker-i-have-seen-in-my-life-pep-praises-ward-/1ccfst0ctpf4x1jnjicd2bo44l), and it seems as if Villa are still keen on the set-piece specialist.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”363813″\]

### The Latest: Source shares update

According to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-major-update-on-aston-villa-bid-to-sign-ward-prowse-from-southampton/), who were informed by a recruitment source, Villa are now readying a bid for the Saints captain.

That will come after other parts of their transfer jigsaw fall into place, with Villa given third-party indications that Ward-Prowse is keen on a move to the Midlands.

The [England international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-ward-prowse/profil/spieler/181579) is impressed with the club’s ambition and views a potential move to Villa Park as an upgrade on the Saints.

\[freshpress-poll id=”363303″\]

### The Verdict: It could take another club-record fee…

It’s good to know that Edens and Sawiris are willing to throw their financial might behind a move for Ward-Prowse, as it could well take another club-record fee to bring him to the club.

Villa spent [£34.56m on Buendia](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transferrekorde/verein/405) earlier this summer, with his [Transfermarkt valuation at the time standing at £19.8m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/marktwertverlauf/spieler/321247).

Ward-Prowse currently holds a [£27m valuation on the same site](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-ward-prowse/profil/spieler/181579) and still has a whopping [four years remaining on his St Mary’s deal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-ward-prowse/profil/spieler/181579).

On that basis, the Saints may not want to sell unless an eye-catching offer comes in, and you’d expect that would have to be over £35m.

***In other news: ‘Good mates with Jack’ – Many AVFC fans erupt as transfer comments emerge on ‘quality’ 25 y/o, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-comments-on-dele-alli/).***