Manchester United are eyeing Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.
The Sun says that could spark a £75million summer tug-of-war, as Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the Southampton skipper.
Erik ten Hag faces a huge rebuilding job at Old Trafford and has already started drawing up a hit-list.
And he has the OK to go for Ward-Prowse, 27, with West Ham intent on keeping Declan Rice for one more season.
Old Trafford sources reckon he can play in the midfield holding role.
Ward-Prowse earns around £100,000-a-week with Saints, meaning his salary — even with a hefty hike — is no stumbling block either.
His five-year contract runs until June 2026, and he is not pressing for a move although the lure of joining one of football's big guns would be hard to resist.
Guardiola wants a midfielder to replace the departing Fernandinho. The City boss has called JWP one of the world's best dead-ball specialists.
But he would not be guaranteed regular first- team action at the Etihad.
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