According to the Liverpool Echo James Ward Prowse is the man Liverpool should turn to as a replacement for James Milner.

Liverpool haven't raided Southampton since the appalling pursuit of Virgil Van Dijk back in 2017/18 season, now the Liverpool Echo has run a story suggesting they should return to St Mary's and this time leave with James Ward Prowse tucked under their arm.

At this time this seems no more than the Liverpool Echo trying to find headlines in these times when stories based on actual facts are hard to find, but we know from the way they chased Van Dijk down and the tactics used that starting a few rumours in the press is the way that some club's like to unsettle a player before making an approach.

The Liverpool Echo say.

"James Ward-Prowse has been a key man for Southampton since 2012 when he first broke into the senior team, and while he might not be an obvious choice for Liverpool to target, the data suggests that he could be an option."

"But it would not be, primarily at least, to fill the central midfield slot that he has most often played for his current side.

The likes of Gini Wijnaldum have been moved around by Jurgen Klopp after being signed by the German - the Dutchman arrived as a number 10 but has never played that role for the Reds and is a much more defensive-oriented player these days.

Ward-Prowse could be Liverpool's wildcard option for covering the right-back slot, as a versatile player who most easily could replicate the work of Trent Alexander-Arnold."

"The 25-year-old could, in fact, be the perfect replacement for James Milner, according to the statistics, given that he too has been tasked with covering at full-back at times."

Speaking on the Analysing Anfield podcast, Josh Williams said:

"Ward-Prowse's set-piece delivery is brilliant - you don't get any better than him in the league.

"I can just picture him picking up the ball in that half-space position that Trent gets it in and whipping it towards the penalty spot.

"Those balls are the dream for an attacker to get on the end of."

"In terms of the stylistic nature of his game, despite him technically being a midfielder, I think if you were to put him as Trent, in the large majority of matches, he would provide a similar threat."

But it seems that it is not just an on the pitch problem Liverpool need to solve, with Milner close to retirement and ex Saint Adam Lallana leaving this summer, they will have a problem filling their quota of English players, that will mean they will have to look at players like Ward Prowse who fit the criteria rather than those who don't, also there will be issues going forward with signing players from the EU, something that will be a big issue in a couple of years time.

So does the Liverpool Echo know something that the rest of the World apart from the Liverpool coaching staff don't or is it just a throwaway story in these tough days to try and generate interest.

At this stage we don't know, but Saints fans more than anyone will be cynical when they see one of our players linked with a move to Anfield.

What it does show though is how well thought of James Ward Prowse is away from St Mary's, here he suffers from the "homegrown syndrome" this is something where a player who has come through the ranks is never as revered as those who have come for big fee's.

There are some Saints supporters who think that Sofiane Boufal is more deserving of a place in the team that James Ward Prowse.

If there is one thing that JWP suffers from and that is his versatility, he has played more than 500 minutes this season at right back, a lot of that has been in mid game reshuffles when we have brought on the likes of Boufal and to accommodate him Ward Prowse has had to be shuffled along to fit him in.

I think this story does not have much basis, at least at the moment, but I think that James Ward Prowse might well be courted by a big club before too long and then some will sit up and appreciate what he has done for the club, especially since Ralph Hasenhuttl came to the club, but by then it may be too late.

Photo: Action Images

perazi added 11:45 - Apr 19 In these strange times - this "story" fits perfectly. I'll drive him up to Merseyside.
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legod7 added 13:11 - Apr 19 “What it does show though is how well thought of James Ward Prowse is away from St Mary's, here he suffers from the "homegrown syndrome" this is something where a player who has come through the ranks is never as revered as those who have come for big fee's.” What about the most revered player in the entire history of SFC Matt Le Tissier who came through the academy ?

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HythePeer added 14:10 - Apr 19 "The 25-year-old could, in fact, be the perfect replacement for James Milner" 🤣
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underweststand added 15:51 - Apr 19 The sort of un-welcome storyline that doesn't mention "Corona". Certainly JWP would flourish in a Top Six side... or looking at it another way ...Who wouldn't want to play for the League Champions and with Liverpool (potentially) losing Milner, Lallana, Mane and Salah ... Liverpool might take a serious interest in someone like JWP. However, like him or not ..Prowsie ought to command a big fee, and when one considers that when L'pool bought Mane...£37 million was their record signing ...(times do change). JWP might not be in VvD -fee class, I hope we wouldn't "give him away" in a cheap deal. I'd like to see JWP stay.. (but like Lallana)...his career would prosper - not to mention his England chances - and at (only 25), he is yet to reach his peak. Saints - like Liverpool - are going through a generational change, and it might be that both clubs would benefit from some serious changes in personnel next season. A point to.. legod 7 ...you're right of course, but having watched many interviews with MLT, it sounds as if it was more his desire to stay with Saints, rather than the lack of any offers that kept him with Saints .

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Peterx added 20:22 - Apr 21 Would hate to see him leave and would be extremely worried for us if we lost JWP as well as PEH to Spurs. I think he wants to play defensive mid field though, so I doubt if he would want to go to play as a backup at LB to Alexander Arnold.
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