James Ward-Prowse would not turn down a move to Tottenham this summer, says former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer.

Ward-Prowse has been heavily linked with a transfer to Aston Villa, with Sky Sports reporting last month that the Midlands club had a £25m bid rejected for the player.

And now, according to The Telegraph, Tottenham are also interested in signing the 26-year-old before the transfer window slams shut.

Southampton have already lost key players in Danny Ings - to Villa ironically - and Jannik Vestergaard and Palmer believes Ward-Prowse could follow them out of the St Mary's exit door if Tottenham make an acceptable offer.

"You wouldn't say no to Tottenham if there was a bid made and accepted," the ex-Southampton player said to TT in an exclusive interview. "A player of ambition, you're looking at Southampton, they're selling their best players and they're not replacing them.

"If an offer comes in at £35m, he will be gone to either Tottenham or Aston Villa."

It will be interesting to see how this one ends because Ward-Prowse has four years left on his contract, while manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has also told reporters that he expects the England international to remain at St Mary's.

However, the Saints have often shown that none of their assets are untouchable if the right offer comes in.