West Ham are readying a cut-price £20million bid to land Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.

The Daily Mail claim the Saints value their skipper at around £40m but the need to sell players following relegation means the Hammers could strike a bargain.

Fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia has also been strongly linked with a move back to the Premier League and while Southampton are reluctant to sell both, they know the pair are the best route to revenue.

As many as 10 clubs have expressed an interest in Ward-Prowse, 28, but age has prevented an elite team from making a move.

West Ham are keen to add a midfielder to their ranks with Declan Rice expected to complete a switch to Arsenal.

The £100m they will recoup from that sale means they can land the England international and a more physical holding midfielder, such as Denis Zakaria of Juventus or Leeds ace Tyler Adams.

Lavia, 19, is on Liverpool and Chelsea's radars after an impressive maiden Premier League campaign despite Southampton's relegation.

The Belgian starlet is valued at £45m, with Arsenal and Manchester United also keeping a close eye.

In other news

Wolves are on the verge of re-signing right-back Matt Doherty following his exit from Atletico Madrid, TEAMtalk have claimed.

Everton have enquired about United goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 37, after agreeing a deal for free agent Ashley Young, according to the Mirror.

Donny van de Beek could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer, say 90min. Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Wolves are all keen on the Dutch midfielder.