James Ward-Prowse is far from the only West Ham United player with a point to prove, and an expensive price-tag to live up to, at the Premier League outfit.
Across the last two Tim Steidten-led summers, the Hammers invested around £250 million on new signings.
Of those 15 additions, genuine successes are proverbial needles in a messy haystack. Mohammed Kudus is ‘unplayable’ on his day, but those days have been few and far between of late.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the club’s 2025 Hammer of the Year, proved to be outstanding value for money. But the same cannot be said of high-cost, low-return investments such as Luis Guilherme, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville.
While Ward-Prowse accepts West Ham haven’t seen the best of him, both Fullkrug and Summerville saw their debut seasons at the London Stadium interrupted by injury.
Fullkrug started only six Premier League matches. Summerville was forced to undergo surgery, meanwhile, on a hamstring issue which ended his campaign as early as January.
West Ham United FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
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James Ward-Prowse backs Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville for West Ham success
To think, big things were expected when West Ham signed Germany’s first-choice centre-forward alongside the 2023/24 Championship Player of the Year.
Ward-Prowse remains confident that both Fullkrug and Summerville will bounce back stronger than ever, though, with the latter expected to return in time for pre-season.
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“Injuries happen. That is part and parcel of football,” the England international tells The Standard. “But they work hard to put things right.
“And, when they’re fully fit, I’m sure they’ll have a great impact on the team.”
West Ham have been linked with a host of centre-forward and left-wingers during the early weeks of the summer window. Hammers News understands that Galatasaray ace Baris Alper Yilmaz is a target under consideration.
The versatile, highly-athletic Turkey attacker would represent two signings rolled into one; combining the line-leading potential of Fullkrug with the speed of Summerville when deployed in a wider role.
There is no question of West Ham giving up on the former Leeds talisman so early in his London Stadium career, however. Fullkrug wants to stay and fight for his place too, despite claims that Juventus are interested in the ex-Dortmund giant.
James Ward-Prowse during Everton FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
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According to Give Me Sport, meanwhile, Graham Potter is keen to keep James Ward-Prowse despite claims that he too may be put up for sale. He featured regularly under Potter following the termination of his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, scoring with a fine finish in the 3-1 final day victory over Ipswich Town.
“Changes in the summer are normal,” the £30 million signing from Southampton reflects. “There will be comings and goings.
“But I have to make sure I’m ready to come back and fight for my place.”
The admiration between player and manager is clearly pretty mutual.
Ward-Prowse is confident that Graham Potter will succeed at West Ham. That is presuming, of course, he is given the time to instil the principles which paved the way for Brighton and Hove Albion’s emergence as arguably the best-run club in the Premier League.
Ward-Prowse insists that West Ham must challenge for Europe again next term, too.
Conference League champions as recently as 2023, they finished 23 points behind seventh-place Nottingham Forest last time out.