SAINTS will reportedly warn their Premier League rivals that captain James Ward-Prowse is not for sale this summer, following another stellar campaign for the midfielder.

The 27-year-old has again caught national attention as he solidifies his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the World Cup, registering nine goals in the Premier League alone.

Four of those have come from direct free-kicks, as Ward-Prowse hunts down Three Lions icon David Beckham and his set-piece record.

Ward-Prowse scored twice on Sunday to drag Saints from two down to secure a point at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, after teenager Tino Livramento had gone off with a first-half ACL injury.

The Daily Mail report that Saints will issue a hands-off warning as the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle are understood to have a growing interest in the academy graduate.

Ward-Prowse signed a brand-new five-year contract with the St Mary’s club last summer, to keep him on the south-coast until 2026.

That followed a rejected £25million offer from Aston Villa, and was a top up to the five-year contract Ward-Prowse had signed just the previous summer.

Ward-Prowse has made 32 Premier League appearances this campaign and was included in Southgate’s most recent England squad, with the trip to Qatar for the World Cup in November.

The captain is currently well-placed to be on the plane, and will continue be the talisman for Saints going forward.

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