Premier League champions Liverpool enjoyed considerable success during their annual raiding of Southampton. West Ham United, though, may be hard pushed taking a leaf out of The Reds’ book.
While Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane would conquer the continent at Anfield, while Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren would become useful squad players early in the Jurgen Klopp revolution, West Ham United may rue the day they decided to pay £30 million for James Ward-Prowse.
Ward-Prowse knows this was a disappointing campaign. Not only for the Hammers as a whole, but for himself too.
Graham Potter is now stuck with an ageing, soon-to-be 31-year-old midfielder who, if he was to leave today, would be sold for a fraction of the fee West Ham invested in him only two summers back.
Such was the tragic nature of their relegation, meanwhile, reports suggesting that Potter and co could pick the flesh from a stinking Southampton carcass has not exactly got hairs standing up on end.
The West Ham faithful are hardly embracing Aaron Ramsdale – the goalkeeper relegated three times now – while reports suggesting Taylor Harwood-Bellis could arrive at the London Stadium to the tune of £15 million will not ease the concerns of supporters kept awake by an error-prone backline.
West Ham have agreed terms with Kyle Walker-Peters, meanwhile, on a prospective £75,000-a-week deal. A solid deal, on paper, if an underwhelming one.
Though if there is one member of the Southampton roster completely untouched by the effects of a disastrous campaign, it’s Shea Charles. Another St Mary’s talent to add to West Ham’s growing collection of red-and-white striped targets.
Southampton fans react as West Ham United target Shea Charles
Charles spent the entirety of the 2024/25 season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
And West Ham were clearly impressed by what they saw from the two-time Northern Ireland international at Hillsborough. So much so that he is now under consideration for a summer switch to the capital.
The Daily Mail reports that Charles – the 21-year-old who joined Southampton in a £15 million deal from Manchester City back in 2023 – has been identified by a Hammers side looking to overhaul a one-paced midfield with hungry, athletic young talent.
But, while the suffering Saints fans will shed few tears if Ramsdale or Harwood-Bellis depart, losing Shea Charles before he has even had the chance to make a starting spot his own would see the Will Still era begin with a major disappointment.
“No way,” one Southampton supporter wrote on X in response to those West Ham links. “He’s an essential asset for next season.”
“£30m and [Crysencio] Summerville,” another adds. A fanciful arrangement, certainly, but a tongue-in-cheek suggestion which shows just how highly Shea Charles is regarded on the South Coast.
“He’s not for sale.”
“Needs to be a firm no.”
Charles could be the athletic midfielder Graham Potter needs
To quote Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neil, Charles ‘blows players away’ with those trademark, buccaneering runs through the thirds.
The current West Ham midfield, meanwhile, is one drastically short of pace and drive. Charles – ‘so comfortable’ turning defence into attack – possesses exactly the sort of attributes Graham Potter is currently missing.
Southampton have a history of selling prized assets for big profits, of course.
There are similarities between Charles’ situation and that of Nathan Tella. The Bundesliga-winning forward Southampton sold for £20 million to Bayer Leverkusen on the back of a stellar loan at Burnley.
“I’m still worried about a Nathan Tella situation after Charles did so well last season [at Sheffield Wednesday],” a concerned supporter admits, albeit there is no immediate pressure to sell with two years left on the Manchester-born dynamo’s contract.
“I really can’t see Shea Charles leaving. The club will be demanding a significant profit from the [fee] they originally paid, for a player that has no experience in the Premier League. Can’t see any club willing to risk it.
“Should put a £30m price tag on his head. That should frighten West Ham off.”
