Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly interested in Southampton's James Ward-Prowse

Chelsea and Manchester City are apparently keeping an eye on Saints starlet James Ward-Prowse.

According to HITC and Shoot Magazine, the Premier League title rivals are interested in the young midfielder to help boost their number of homegrown players: a must for England's Champions League representatives.

However, Ward-Prowse seems to be an expensive option for the aforementioned clubs, despite the vast sums of money in their coffers.

England Under-21 captain Ward-Prowse has racked up close to 100 appearances for Southampton since bursting on the scene against City in Saints' first game following their return to the Premier League in 2012.

Ward-Prowse remains a divisive figure among Saints fans. Some believe him to be rather overrated, others feel he has shown glimpses of potential to become a great player.

Either way, it would cost a lot for either club to secure the latest big name from Southampton's academy.