Sources: Newcastle United eye move for red-hot star with same agent as Nick Pope

Newcastle United are eyeing up a move for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, sources have told Football Insider.

Ward-Prowse is set to quit the Saints in the summer if they fail to stay in the Premier League.

Newcastle, along with Liverpool and Man United have sent scouts to watch the 28-year-old ahead of a potential move at the end of the season.

Sources told this site that it will take a lot of money for the Saints to sell but if they get relegated clubs could nab the England international for around £40million.

Last month (11 February), Football Insider revealed that Newcastle are planning to land at least three marquee signings this summer and are willing to spend big money on each.

The Magpies are also set to offload at least four senior players in the summer to raise funds to land their top targets.

Ward-Prowse will have three years left on his current deal at St Mary’s at the end of the season after signing an extension in 2021.

The midfielder has spent his entire career at Southampton, starting with the academy in 2010 where he worked his way up before joining the first team in 2012.

Ward-Prowse has made 399 appearances for the Saints during his tenure at the club and has netted 55 goals and provided 52 assists in those outings.

He is represented by the same agents as Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, who has made a huge impact since signing from Burnley.

The dead-ball king is also closing in on David Beckham’s record for most free-kick goals in the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse has scored 17 goals from free-kicks, just one off David Beckham’s total of 18.

But, the Southampton captain is more prolific than the Man United legend at scoring free kicks away from home, with 13 to Beckham’s 11.