Spurs Continue to be Linked with Wanyama

Should the rumor mill be believed, Spurs could be interested in acquiring Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama in the summer.

It’s a rumor that has lingered since last summer’s transfer window, and now it seems to have been given new life.

The Mirror reported on Thursday that the Kenyan international has rejected a contract extension with Southampton. With only 18 months left on his current deal, this means that if the club want to cash in on him, they’re going to have to do so soon.

Wanyama reportedly submitted a transfer request last summer in response to interest from Spurs. While that obviously did not have the desired effect, it’s led to speculation that his reluctance to re-sign with the Saints is another ploy to force the issue.

Any club – Spurs included – would be justified in having their curiosity piqued by Wanyama’s rumored entry into the transfer market. The 24-year-old has steadily improved over the two and a half seasons since his move to Southampton from Celtic. Arguably at his best alongside Morgan Schneiderlin last season before the latter’s move to Manchester United, he’s continued to provide some much needed stability in the defensive midfield so far this season.

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That being said, it is not at all clear that Spurs would be legitimately in for the player at this point. The club’s interest in him last summer came at a transitional period for the club. Étienne Capoue and Benjamin Stambouli had just been sold and there appeared to be a void in the defensive midfield area, one that was rumored to be filled imminently by any number of recognizable players from England and the continent.

As Spurs sounded out their options, it was Eric Dier who stepped into that void. Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino was only using him as a stopgap until a proper player could be recruited, or perhaps Dier was always the long term solution. Whatever the case might have been, by the time the transfer deadline day came it was evident that the club would not need to splash any cash on a defensive midfielder anytime soon.

So if interest in Wanyama only came before Dier and, later, Mousa Dembélé’s star turns in central midfield, would Spurs actually make another move for the Southampton wantaway in the summer? It seems unlikely. Dier and Dembélé are in the process of making a case for being the best central midfielder pair in the Premier League. Why exactly would Mauricio Pochettino want to upset that nascent partnership?

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Even if Wanyama would come at a cut rate given the remaining time on his contract, it probably would not be the best option for Spurs. He is a player of very real quality, but – as we’ve said countless times before – Spurs are no longer the type of club that jumps at every opportunity for immediate improvement.

Rather, they want to cultivate players on their own who know Pochettino’s system and know the players around them. That’s a slower process than snatching up players of Wanyama’s ability, but it’s also a more seamless and cheaper option. Given Spurs’ success so far this season, it’s unlikely the club will be breaking from that mentality anytime soon.