JAMES Ward-Prowse believes it will be good to have a targetman option at Saints – as big man striker Guido Carrillo nears a club-record move to St Mary's.

The 26-year-old forward is understood to be close to a switch from Monaco for a reported fee of around £19.1m.

Ward-Prowse views news signings as a positive for the club and especially when they can add a new dynamic to Saints' game.

With top-scorer Charlie Austin out injured long-term, Carrillo offers a solid aerial presence in attack.

"It’s a different way of playing. It’s good to have a different option in games to have a bigger player," he said.

"The recruiting process here is very good and I’m sure whoever they bring in will be of quality.

"It’s helpful for a team to have a variety of players to use and if that’s the option the club see fit to go down then that’s great.

"But whoever the club bring in I’m sure they will have quality and will add something to the team."

Saints are also interested in Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes and Ward-Prowse is relishing fresh competition for places in Mauricio Pellegrino's team.

"It’s definitely a positive for the club," he said about Saints signing new players.

"For us as players to have that added competition is great.

"When a new player comes in everyone has to be on their toes.

"It’s exciting when a new player comes in because everybody wants to see what they’re all about and what they can offer. But also it’s added competition.

"I want to be better than whoever comes into my position. Everybody has to be on their toes and levels will increase."

During Saints' poor run of results, which has seen them go without a league win in 11 games and drop into the Premier League's relegation zone, Ward-Prowse has grown in importance.

Having spent much of the early parts of the season on the periphery of the squad, the 23-year-old has started nine of the last ten matches.

And in the last few games, he's scored three goals in as many appearances and claimed the man of the match award after Saints' 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

"Every players will go through phases in a season and obviously I’m pleased with how I’ve played in the last few games," he said.

"You do feel that bit of responsibility to continue but in those attacking positions we need to score goals to win games and that’s the thing I need to work and I’m producing for the team.

"It’s an added bonus when it does come off."

Having been at the club since 2003, Ward-Prowse is more passionate than anyone about getting Saints through this difficult period.

"I’ve always seen myself as a leader, maybe not vocally shouting for 90 minutes, but the way that I work and try and help the team," he said.

"When you look at the journey I’ve been on at the football club, it does mean a hell of a lot to me and every time I came in to train as an academy player from under-9s to under-16s it was all about playing for the first team. I wanted to be running out of St Mary’s.

"Now you’ve got that opportunity you don’t want to waste it, you want to make sure you keep this club up and do your bit to help the club reach the levels it deserves, rather than where it is at the moment."

His history with the club means the battle they're facing means a lot to Ward-Prowse.

"Everyone has their own backgrounds in how they got here," he said.

"Mine is unique in where I’ve been at the club since I was seven, so it does have that emotional attachment to it and I’ve worked every training session to play for the first team and reach these levels and stay there."