---
title: "Southampton: Journalist drops double exit claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/ward-prowse-walker-peters-top-4-transfer-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-04-11T17:45:39Z"
modified: "2022-04-11T17:45:39Z"
---

# Southampton: Journalist drops double exit claim

**Southampton duo James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters could soon start ‘attracting interest’ from the Premier League’s top four, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.**

### The Lowdown: Great season

The Saints pair have been in excellent form this season and have duly been rewarded by respective call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s England side.

According to statistical analysis carried out by [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/18/Show/England-Southampton), Ward-Prowse has been Ralph Hasenhuttl’s player of the season thus far, earning himself a strong 7.04 rating. Walker-Peters trails closely behind in second, with a solid 6.94 rating.

As a result, a number of transfer rumours have arisen linking them with moves to a multitude of Premier League clubs, such as [Arsenal](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arsenal-transfer-report-james-ward-prowse-touted-as-granit-xhaka-replacement-rumours-gossip-transfers-signings-afc) in Ward-Prowse’s case.

[Southampton latest developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/southampton-latest-developments/)

### The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim on Southampton duo…

O’Rourke has said that he would not be surprised if a number of top-four Premier League clubs are interested in signing the Southampton duo in the summer.

Talking with [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/87993115-southampton-12m-hasenhuttl-signing-now-attractive-to-a-lot-of-clubs), he claimed: *“You wouldn’t be surprised if both of those players were attracting interest from the top four, top six clubs in the Premier League.*

*“They’ve been excellent for Southampton and earning England recognition now as well, Kyle Walker-Peters.*

*“I think the big thing for Walker-Peters is he took that step away from Tottenham in search of first-team football, and that move has definitely paid off for him, breaking into the England team.*

*“And I’m sure he’s attractive to a lot of clubs because he can play right-back or left-back, and he’d be a great player to have in your squad.”*

\[freshpress-poll id=”391332″\]

### The Verdict: Saints need to keep hold of them

Both players have proven to be essential to Hasenhuttl’s side this season. As Saints captain, Ward-Prowse has been crucial in maintaining the club’s Premier League status since their promotion from the Championship [in 2011/12.](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/platzierungen/verein/180)

The 27-year-old has been hailed one of the world’s best dead-ball specialists, having now scored [13 league goals directly from free kicks](https://archive.ph/20220404145903/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unerring-james-ward-prowse-closing-in-on-david-beckhams-free-kick-record-9wwkfm2xp#selection-885.143-885.290), taking him above Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola in the Premier League’s rankings into second in the all-time list.

Meanwhile, Walker-Peters has demonstrated his versatility this season, having played the majority of the campaign in an unfavoured left-hand role, where he has nonetheless accumulated [six goal contributions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kyle-walker-peters/leistungsdaten/spieler/341051) in his 30 outings across all competitions.

Therefore, if either player decides to leave in the summer, it would no doubt come as a huge blow to the south coast club, given their aforementioned importance to the Southampton cause.

***In other news: [Ralph Hasenhuttl confirms Shane Long concern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-fc-news/southampton-ralph-hasenhuttl-confirms-shane-long-concern/)***