West Ham are stepping up their interest in James Ward-Prowse and are prepared to smooth negotiations with Southampton over the midfielder by letting Flynn Downes move in the opposite direction.
Southampton will struggle to hold on to their best players after relegation and are close to selling Tino Livramento to Newcastle for about £30m. The 20-year-old right-back moved to St Mary’s from Chelsea two years ago and is fit after missing much of last season with a knee injury.
