West Ham offload Moyes favourite to Southampton in season-long loan switch

West Ham have allowed midfielder Flynn Downes to join Championship side Southampton on a season-long loan.

The 24-year-old makes the move to the south coast a week after James Ward-Prowse joined West Ham from Saints for £30million.

Downes signed for the Hammers from Swansea for £9million last summer but made only seven Premier League starts.

Downes, who played under Saints boss Russell Martin and his coaching staff at Swansea, said: “The ambition for the club is obviously to get promoted, to get back in the Premier League and that enticed me a lot.

“Obviously I’ve worked with the gaffer before. I’ve worked with them and I know what they’re about.

“Their attention to detail, the way they play, what they demand of us players – it’s just such a good environment to be in, so it’s a no-brainer really.”

West Ham are back in action on Saturday evening when they head to table-topping Brighton in the Premier League.

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