James Ward-Prowse left Southampton at the first real chance he got, and now he wants to return as a last resort? It doesn't work that way, or at least it shouldn't work that way.
Southampton is a club that cannot be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously. Unfortunately, in the past, the Saints picked up the reputation of being a feeder club to top Premier League teams. Now, they are tarnished by the yo-yo club reputation.
Neither is a good reputation to have, so how does Southampton go about flipping the narrative?
Well, signing James Ward-Prowse in January isn't it.
James Ward-Prowse is open to re-joining Southampton
Recently, James Ward-Prowse was axed from the West Ham squad by new manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Simply put, he just isn't fit to be a West Ham player.
According to talkSPORT, James Ward-Prowse is open to re-joining Southampton.
Of course he is. It's not like JWP is spoilt for choice when it comes to potential suitors, is it?
But the fact of the matter remains. Southampton should not fall for the JWP trap. Signing him has many cons that vastly outweigh the pros, but one overlooked con is how badly it would tamper the club's reputation.
Frankly put, going back to a player who left at the first real opportunity reeks of desperation. Hopefully, the Saints don't do it.
Look, JWP gave many years of service to Southampton, even at their worst. This counts for something, it really does, but it doesn't count for a free pass back into the team.
Southampton has to consider his age and the fact that he is a fraction of the player he was when he represented Southampton last. He is not going to come to St. Mary's and flip the script of his career, and let's face it, he probably won't improve Southampton too much.
Will Still must focus on the players at his disposal, not to mention the many that Southampton signed in the summer transfer window. What kind of message would crawling back to former players who are past their best send to the current crop of players?
Hopefully, Southampton keeps its dignity intact. You cannot move forward by going backwards.