With the future of Jack Grealish the subject of much speculation, Villa are continuing to move at pace in the transfer market. Whether these actions are to offset the departure of our marquee player or solidify any statement of intent, remains to be seen.
Southampton arguably find themselves in a similar spot to Villa, with Ward-Prowse a key figure in their squad and subject to a lengthy five year contract.
The South-Coast sides resolve is now going to be tested, with Villa having tabled a confirmed bid in the region of £25m for the free-kick specialist.
Saints immediately rejected Villa’s advances and have refused the approach, with it being reported that the Southampton board considered the bid “derisory”.
Villa’s transfer approach has been calculated and no-nonsense in recent seasons, with billionaire owners Edens and Sawires appearing decidedly unphased by either fees or sentiment.
No better reminder of this occured just yesterday, with the club signing Bundesliga hotshot Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal costing north of £30m.
Dean Smith’s interest in Ward-Prowse extends from the early part of the summer and the firm interest shown in a bid serves to confirm Villa’s intent. The outcome will rest upon what Southampton’s valuation of their club captain is and the midfielder’s appetite for a new, perhaps uncertain, challenge in the Midlands.
Will cost at least double that