(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Wed 27 May 2026 15:00, UK

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West Ham United midfielder James Ward-Prowse does not have a future at the club after they confirmed their position on manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 31-year-old has not been in Nuno’s plans since he arrived at West Ham last September, and was shipped out on loan to Burnley in the January transfer window.

West Ham’s relegation to the Championship could have given Ward-Prowse a lifeline at the club, but the Hammers have confirmed that Nuno will remain as manager next season.

Nuno oversaw an upturn in results and performances during the second half of the season, and favoured Mateus Fernandes and Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park.

Ward-Prowse is now on the verge of leaving West Ham, whilst he only has a year left on his contract with the club.

West Ham duo set to profit from departures

Whilst Nuno clearly does not see anything in Ward-Prowse, the 31-year-old could still have plenty to offer in the second tier.

Known for his set-piece prowess, and with Fernandes expected to depart the London Stadium, Ward-Prowse could still make a difference for Nuno in the Championship.

Instead, Nuno is going to have to undertake a rebuild of his midfield, with Soucek unlikely to want to stick around at the club either.

That could give opportunities to 22-year-old’s Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa to make their mark in the first team.

Nuno though will be targeting an instant return to the Premier League, and will be active in the market this summer.

West Ham tipped to keep star player

West Ham are set to lose a host of players this summer, but Nuno remaining at the club could persuade a few to also stay put.

The Hammers were only two points off Premier League safety, and will be among the favourites to get promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Captain Jarrod Bowen sounded determined to help West Ham come straight back up when he spoke to the press following their win over Leeds on the final day of the season.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that he expects Bowen to remain at West Ham after dismissing claims about a potential exit.

Bowen is being pursued by a number of Premier League clubs, and it would be a signal of intent from West Ham if they managed to persuade the 29-year-old to stay.