West Ham legend Kevin Nolan has expressed his surprise at the club’s decision to allow midfielder James Ward-Prowse to leave this summer.
Ward-Prowse, who joined the Hammers from Southampton last year for £30 million, made a significant impact in his debut season, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Despite his impressive performances, the midfielder found himself out of favour under new manager Julen Lopetegui and was loaned out to Nottingham Forest for the season, a move that has left many, including Nolan, questioning the decision.
Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Nolan said:
“I must admit I’m very surprised that West Ham let him go. I get that Julen wants to bring in his own players but James Ward-Prowse is one of those players who never does anything wrong.”
“He makes the correct decision and just gets the game. His set-pieces are phenomenal.”
West Ham’s poor start to the season has only intensified scrutiny on the club’s summer dealings.
The Hammers were among the Premier League’s biggest spenders in the transfer window, but their investment has yet to yield results.
Despite bolstering their squad with new arrivals, they have won just one of their first four matches, suffering defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City, and drawing with Fulham in their most recent outing.
With pressure mounting, manager Lopetegui faces a critical period as West Ham prepare for a tough test against Chelsea. The Spaniard will be desperate for a win to ease tensions and get the club’s season back on track, though the task promises to be a challenging one.