West Ham legend Kevin Nolan has voiced his surprise at the club’s decision to let midfielder James Ward-Prowse leave this summer.
Ward-Prowse, who joined West Ham from Southampton last summer for £30 million, had a standout debut season, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. Despite his impressive performances, Ward-Prowse fell out of favor with new manager Julen Lopetegui and was subsequently loaned to Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season—a move that has left Nolan and others perplexed.
On the Football Daily podcast, Nolan expressed his belief that West Ham made a mistake by letting Ward-Prowse go. He stated:
“I’m really surprised West Ham decided to let him leave. I understand that Julen wants to bring in his own players, but James Ward-Prowse is a player who consistently performs well. He makes the right decisions and understands the game perfectly. His set-pieces are exceptional.”
West Ham’s rocky start to the season
West Ham was one of the most active Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window, spending significantly to bolster their squad. However, despite the influx of new players, the team has struggled early in the season, winning only one of their first four matches. They have faced defeats against Aston Villa and Manchester City and were held to a draw by Fulham in their latest game.
With mounting pressure, manager Julen Lopetegui will be looking for a crucial win in their upcoming match against Chelsea, which promises to be a tough challenge for his side.
