Southampton and England midfielder James Ward-Prowse has become the club’s highest-paid player of all time, writes Dan Sheldon. The 26-year-old, who was subject to a £25 million bid from Aston Villa this summer, put an end to speculation over his future by agreeing a new five-year deal at St Mary’s. His new contract has seen him reach £100,000 a week, which takes him above Theo Walcott and goalkeeper Fraser Forster as the top earner at the club. It is also believed there is no release clause inserted into the new agreement, although there’s an understanding Southampton won’t stand in his way if one of the Premier League’s top sides make an acceptable offer. The club’s captain has become an instrumental part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team and narrowly missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 England squad. This summer was the first time he has been seriously linked with a move away from Southampton, a team he joined aged eight, but Southampton’s board weren’t prepared to entertain any offers.
Jannick Vestergaard has been injured in training with Leicester City and will miss tonight’s match with West Ham. The defender only joined Brendan Rodgers’ side 11 days ago, in part because of the broken leg suffered by Wesley Fofana, who is not expected to play again this year. Vestergaard injured his knee last season and was sidelined in mid-December 2020 before returning in February. The injury means that Leicester, who are chasing a top-four spot after missing out narrowly in the past two years, are short in defence again, with Jonny Evans still absent with a foot problem and Ryan Bertrandunavailable after testing positive for COVID-19.
Are you really surprised? He was highly paid before he came to us...would take a decent offer to get him here. . If he's worth it is a different question. Lets hope so.
Not only that, his experience alone is worth a bit. A good mentor that can take the younger ones under his wing. That is worth quite a lot.
Have people listened to the Total Saints Podcast this week where JWP stomach/digestion issue was discussed? Apparently he has had to change his diet and they were speculating whether this was affecting his game. Maybe with the new bumper contract he had converted to caviar and truffles which has not agreed with him?
Champagne Prowsey is his name, Playing footy is his game, Pity 'bout the diet it's a shame, The form'll soon be back again.
