Tottenham: Wanyama Keen to Work with Alderweireld Again

Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama playing with Southampton two seasons ago is a precursor of what’s to come when they play together again this year.

A couple of days ago, Tottenham players were filing into Spurs’ Enfield Training Center and starting their pre-season program. The only players who aren’t in attendance, are those still on vacation following their involvement in the Copa América and Euros. As well as Hugo Lloris (France) and Ben Davies (Wales).

But for everyone else who weren’t on international duty, they’re back and getting their medical testing done — if they haven’t done so already on July 1st.

One player who was quickly able to slip into Hotspur Way quite seamlessly is Victor Wanyama, Tottenham’s first summer signing.

With the 25-year-old defensive midfielder joining Spurs, the Kenyan international will provide some much needed depth at midfield.

Not only could Wanyama play in place of Eric Dier to give him rest, but he could also challenge the 22-year-old for the starting job as well.

Having competition will only make both Victor Wanyama and Dier better players as Mauricio Pochettino saw this past season when Kyle Walker played arguably his best season in a Spurs shirt, since his PFA Young Player of the Year winning season in 2011-12 after Kieran Trippier was signed to challenge for the right-back position.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Victor Wanyama of Southampton is tracekd by Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s Stadium on December 19, 2015 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

With Wanyama’s signing, this should hopefully fix an issue that Tottenham needed to address last January after it was evident they were mounting a title challenge and less rotation would be happening.

That didn’t happen — hindsight being 20-20 and all — but one of Spurs’ strengths was also the quality that they had in their starting XI. The bench, or lack thereof, was a detriment which Pochettino will no doubt be looking to bolster this summer.

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One reason that Victor Wanyama made sense other than Tottenham and Wanyama being interested in one another, and Mauricio Pochettino needing depth, was a familiarity that the Kenyan had with Toby Alderweireld during their days in Southampton.

To sign a player who has a familiarity with someone currently on the team, it makes the transition much easier.

There’s less coaching that needs to be done. Also, when former teammates reunite, good things tend to happen (see: Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld).

It’s to be expected that what Alderweireld and Vertonghen showed since day one when they paired up again, will happen with Wanyama when he’s starting in place of Mousa Dembélé as he continues serving his six-match ban once the Premier League season starts on August 13th.

Speaking to Tottenham’s official site yesterday, Victor Wanyama talked about his respect for the Belgian center-back and how it’s mutual between the two.

"“I know Toby, I’ve played with him before and he’s really a good player and also a good guy off the pitch,” Wanyama said.“It’s obviously important for the team to have a player like Toby. He’s intelligent and he’s always ahead of the opponents so it’s really good to have a player like him in the side and I’m delighted to link up with him again.”“We have a good relationship too. We are always talking on the field and I enjoy it a lot when I play in the same team as Toby.”"

Alderweireld returned the favor last week after Wanyama was signed. Saying how he’s one of the best midfielders in the league, his strength is second-to-none and having experience playing in the Champions League will be a big boost next year.

“Obviously I played with him at Southampton and I think he’s one of the best midfield players in the Premier League,” said Toby Alderweireld.

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"“He’s strong, he can play with the ball and mentally he’s very strong too. He likes to work hard and that’s perfect for the team that we are building now.”“This year we will play a lot of games at the highest level – in the Champions League. Victor is strong and he has a lot of experience, having played in the Premier League and the Champions League before. He knows what you have to do and what’s asked of you at that level.”“I feel he will bring us even more strength and power in midfield but he’s also good on the ball which will be great for us because we like to build from the back.“As a person he’s so nice, too. He’s good for everybody and the fans will know that quite quickly. He’s a beast on the pitch but a very nice person off it.”"

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