Report reveals crucial details from Ward-Prowse’s new Southampton deal

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse put to bed any speculation regarding his future by signing a new five-year contract at St Mary’s last week.

Now a joint report from the Athletic’s Dan Sheldon and David Ornstein has revealed some crucial details that have been included in the new agreement between the 26-year-old and the club.

They claim that Ward-Prowse is now the highest-paid player in Saints’ history and will take home a cool £100,000 per week as a reward for his loyalty. Perhaps the most important thing though is that the deal is said to not include a release clause – meaning Saints have everything in their favour when potentially negotiating with other clubs in the future.

With their biggest asset now secured for the foreseeable, Saints now need to make sure they make forward strides with Ward-Prowse at the centre of things.

Southampton reach their limit but have JWP’s next five years to play with

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• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
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• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

When looking at Ward-Prowse’s reported wage, it can be said that Saints have reached their current limit in terms of the amount of money they can allocate to one player.

The size of the club and the position they have been in for the past three or so years means that they are unlikely to be able to hand another member of the first-team squad six figures per week. However, this goes to show the belief they have in Ward-Prowse to be the focal point of everything they do over the course of his new deal.

Nowadays he is not only is he hugely valuable on the pitch in his all-round play and with his set-pieces but is a leader in different ways for the players around him.

He shows the way to the top for academy graduates that progress to train with the first-team and shows the consistently high levels of performance that his more senior teammates need to replicate in order to create a solid team unit.

Progress must be made over the next few years as Ward-Prowse will want a chance at Europe on the horizon, perhaps a cup win in sight and his England place back. The club and player will help each other in this situation, that is for sure.