Newcastle United are considering submitting an offer to sign James Ward-Prowse, with Eddie Howe interested in making the midfielder only the fifth player to join the Toon from Southampton to date.
Magpies chiefs have rarely shopped on the south coast over the years, with the club last agreeing a deal with the Saints in 1989. Players heading in the opposite direction has been a marginally more frequent occurrence as eight players have left St James’ Park, with Olivier Bernard the last in 2005.
Howe is now open to going where no Toon manager has gone since Jim Smith bought John Burridge, though. The Guardian claim Newcastle are interested in rivalling West Ham United for Ward-Prowse this year, and are considering making Southampton an offer for their academy product and captain.
Newcastle and West Ham interested in Ward-Prowse transfer from Southampton
David Moyes is a huge advocate of Ward-Prowse’s ability and believes the 27-year-old can replace Mark Noble in east London. The Irons boss is seeking to find the new heartbeat of his engine room as Noble retired at the end of the 2021/22 campaign after 550 appearances with his boyhood club.
Howe is also in the market for new midfield options as he strives to strengthen his St James’ ranks. But Newcastle and West Ham face a mammoth asking price if either club steps up their interest in Ward-Prowse. Reports by The Sun note Southampton want £75m for the 11-cap sought-after England ace.
Ward-Prowse is on the radars of Manchester United and City this summer, with Erik ten Hag viewing the Portsmouth-born technician as the new general of the Old Trafford engine room. Pep Guardiola is likewise a big fan, and has previously called Ward-Prowse an ‘incredible’ set-piece expert, as well.
Interest in the one-club man is also bubbling in north London, with the Daily Star citing Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The elite Premier League teams appreciate Ward-Prowse, having proven his all-action ability at both ends of the pitch at St Mary’s, while rarely missing a game over recent seasons.
So, with Howe among those interested in Ward-Prowse and Newcastle considering making an offer, here are a selection of the previous deals for players to move between the Toon and Southampton…
Burridge last Southampton player to join Newcastle amid Ward-Prowse interest
Burridge was the last Southampton player to join Newcastle for Ward-Prowse to possibly now follow amid Howe’s interest. Smith bought the veteran goalkeeper from the Saints in 1989 at the age of 37, and he would remain on Tyneside through to 1991 and also briefly returned to St James’ during ‘93.
The shot-stopper enjoyed a nomadic career before and after his Magpies spells, having represented Aston Villa, Wolves, Sheffield United, Hibernian, Manchester City, Notts County, Gateshead, Queen of the South and Blyth Spartans among his 28 clubs that returned almost 800 domestic appearances.
Bernard last Newcastle player to join Southampton with 2005 transfer
Bernard remains the most recent Newcastle player to join Southampton after heading to the south coast in 2005 for £400k. He signed just a five-month deal with the Saints during the January market before moving on to Rangers that summer, and would return to St James’ in 2006 for another year.
The French full-back retired following his second spell with the Magpies, whom he had joined from Lyon in 2001. Bernard enjoyed 145 appearances across all competitions over his Newcastle careers, compared to 16 outings with Southampton and just 14 with Rangers after a disjointed time at Ibrox.
‘King Kev’ earned royalty status at St James’ after leaving the Saints
Kevin Keegan earned royalty status at St James’ after leaving Southampton for Newcastle in 1982. The forward only spent two years on Tyneside as a player, before returning in the dugout between 1992 and ‘97 and a second spell in charge during 2008 to further enhance his legacy with the Toon.
He enjoyed promotions with the club as both a player and manager, having returned to steady the ship in 1992. The attacking style Keegan implemented saw Newcastle quickly became known as the ‘Entertainers’ and finished behind Manchester United for the Premier League in ‘95/96 and ‘96/97.
Channon chopped one month after Newcastle arrival from Southampton
Newcastle chopped Mick Channon just one month after his arrival from Southampton in 1982. The striker had made his name with the Saints, Manchester City and for England and headed to Tyneside alongside Keegan at 33. But after a heroic start to his St James’ spell, Channon could not keep it up.
Channon enjoyed a goalscoring debut with the Toon’s winning effort in a derby with Middlesbrough. Yet lacklustre performances would follow in black-and-white, before heading to Bristol Rovers after just four appearances. Far from his FA Cup-winning spells at Southampton as an academy graduate.
Beresford held key role in Keegan’s Entertainers before returning to south coast
John Beresford had a key role in Keegan’s Entertainers before the left-back stepped across the south coast divide. Newcastle signed the defender from Portsmouth in 1992 and helped to win the second-tier in his debut season. Yet after two second-place Premier League finishes, he joined Southampton.
His Saints spell was far from as successful as at St James’ as Beresford only featured 17 times before joining Ossett Town in 2001. The former England U20 international also departed the Saints on loan for Birmingham in 1999, having failed to establish his presence after joining a year-and-a-half earlier.
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