Sky journalist: Southampton keen on “excellent” EFL talent, Martin personally a big fan
The Saints are keen to sign the Leicester midfielder.
Southampton are continuing to track Hamza Choudhury, although no official bid has yet been made, as reported by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett.
How many games has Hamza Choudhury played?
The Leicester City man spent the 2022/23 season out on loan with Watford in the Championship, with gametime hard to come by with the Foxes. As his parent club struggled in the Premier League, the midfielder went on to play in 36 second tier outings for the Hornets though and was a key player for them as they clawed their way into the top half of the division.
His overall stats made for good reading too. He attempted 108 tackles in total, ranking him fifth in that area in the entire league, but also had 67 tackles won – which also ranked him as fifth in those standings. It shows that he isn’t afraid to get stuck in and doesn’t do it needlessly either, winning most of the tackles he does place.
Leicester have previously utilised him in the top flight too, with the Englishman having made 53 appearances for them in the Premier League over the years. However, only 29 of those have been actual starts and it means that he is still to establish himself as a regular in their first-team picture. When you consider that he was also sent out on a short-term basis last year, it shows that he currently sits down the pecking order at the King Power Stadium, but is a player with high level experience.
Are Southampton signing Hamza Choudhury?
With the Foxes now in the Championship, there could be more opportunities for the 25-year-old to feature, but they may not come with Leicester. That’s because, as reported by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett, Southampton still have a keen interest in the midfielder and their boss Russell Martin is an “admirer” of the tough tackling ace.
It means that he is likely to explore the possibility of a deal but that may not be easy, with the Foxes also now wanting to keep Choudhury at the club. It seems as though they may offer the player a fresh deal and could play him a lot more – so if a bid does go in, he may have a choice to make over his future club.
Choudhury has proven his ability at Championship level, which may be why there is now a scramble to sign and keep him. His stats present him as one of the most solid options in his position at this level and his ability to grind away and break up attacks in the middle of the field is superb.
Journalist Josh Bunting labelled him as “excellent” for his part in a Watford goal during the course of the last campaign, showing that he is a solid option in the second tier. If Southampton do manage to prise him away then, it will be another boost for their squad in their bid for promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
READ MORE: West Ham push for midfielder, £25m deal now on table – report
West Ham United have made their opening push to sign Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse with a £25m deal now on the table, according to the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath.
The Irons are desperately continuing their search for a new midfielder having lost Declan Rice this summer and have sent an offer for the England international after having a £40m bid for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher rejected.
Ward-Prowse has been the subject of plenty of interest this summer following the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League, but the Irons are the first to test their resolve with a genuine bid.
Taking to Twitter late on 24 July, McGrath wrote: “West Ham have made their opening move for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse. Deal worth £25m in total.”
The 28-year-old is as a player who could fulfil a number of roles under David Moyes. The West Ham boss has been looking at a host of defensive midfielders including Denis Zakaria, Joao Palhinha and Scott McTominay.
A different type of option
One fan on social media phrased the Irons’ pursuit of midfielders this summer as, if you’ve ever played more than a few games in the middle of the park, West Ham will probably be interested and bid around £7m under your asking price.
Now that is obviously a very tongue-in-cheek joke from a member of the club’s fanbase, but there is more than an element of truth in the statement, West Ham have been linked with anyone and everyone who plays in midfield this summer.
Ward-Prowse, however, represents a possible astute piece of business. As a player, he is incredibly different from Declan Rice, with the focus being on his delivery into the area and his set-piece ability, rather than his defensive and ball-carrying attributes.
But that’s what makes him an exciting option, Moyes seems to be enticed by the former England international because of his versatility, he can play at the base of defence as an almost quarter-back, or at the top as an attacking midfielder.
With moves for a number of other targets, like Gallagher, reportedly costing fees well in excess of this initial offer for Ward-Prowse, his ability to impact the game so heavily and do it from all over midfield may make him the best option available to Moyes right now, even if he isn’t your archetypal big-man in the middle of the park.
While some will always remain focused on his complete difference in style to Rice, that may be what has attracted the Scotsman to the £25m man.
