Southampton May Replace Ward-Prowse With £12.5-p/w “Leader”

Southampton followers will hope that the longer the switch window goes on, the extra likelihood there may be of captain James Ward-Prowse remaining on the membership for not less than one other season.

Nevertheless, the extra lifelike prospect is that a Premier League team makes a bid that satisfies the Saints, who in flip should discover a alternative – not simply when it comes to his high quality in midfield, but additionally what he brings as a pacesetter.

Are Southampton fascinated about signing Matt Grimes?

Grimes has been touted as a doable goal for Southampton ever since Russell Martin was lined as much as turn into the Saints’ new supervisor. With Martin finally being appointed last week, these rumours have gathered momentum.

In keeping with The Guardian, Martin is looking to bring Grimes to St Mary’s as he’s after a pacesetter to information the membership out of the Championship on the first try.

Former England U21 worldwide Grimes has two years left to run on his contract on the Liberty Stadium, where he earns £12.5k-per-week, in keeping with Capology.

Is Matt Grimes a superb alternative for Ward-Prowse?

Any participant coming in for Ward-Prowse may have large boots to fill, and there are particular facets that merely can’t be changed – a type of being the England worldwide’s set-piece prowess, with his 17 goals from free-kicks behind solely David Beckham’s 18 in Premier League historical past.

Grimes is extra of a creator of objectives than a goalscorer himself, setting up 0.16 goals per 90 minutes within the Championship final season, as per FBref. By comparability, Ward-Prowse set up 0.11 per 90 within the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse can also be somebody who likes to cross the ball into the field (6.43 per 90 minutes, compared to 1.41 for Grimes), whereas Grimes is somebody who prefers to maintain issues ticking alongside (104.3 passes per 90 v 66.2 for Ward-Prowse).

There are many similarities between the pair when it comes to their enjoying kinds, although, similar to their goal-creating actions per 90 (0.24 for Ward-Prowse, 0.30 for Grimes), blocks (0.80 v 0.73) and even yellow playing cards acquired (0.16 v 0.18).

Greater than any of these metrics, although, it’s Grimes’ management qualities that make him a superb match to switch Ward-Prowse. The 27-year-old was named Swansea City captain in 2019, having lastly established himself by that time following a series of loan moves early in his profession.

Martin spent two years working with him, that means he is aware of precisely what he can be getting ought to a deal undergo.

“He’s so necessary,” said Martin in November 2021. “I believe he is acquired probably the most passes in Britain and Europe, probably the most correct passes, probably the most ahead passes.

“He is only a sensible chief. He is not a shouter, however when he talks, folks pay attention. It is actually necessary we do every thing we are able to to maintain him.”

The irony of that final assertion is that it could be Martin who plucks Grimes from Swansea in a transfer that might very a lot kick-start his Southampton tenure.

Possibly then Southampton supporters will slowly come to phrases with the prospect of dropping Ward-Prowse.