Southampton boss offers fresh update on Victor Wanyama's contract situation

Posted Saturday, April 23, 2016 by hitc.com

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman says that the club are still working on a deal to tie Victor Wanyama down to a new long-term contract amid links to Tottenham Hotspur, the Daily Echo reports.

The former Celtic midfielder’s deal on the south coast expires in 2017, leaving the club in a precarious position as his price is expected to diminish with each passing month.

Southampton either need to tie Wanyama down now, or sell him this summer as they look to avoid potentially losing him on a free transfer in 2017 with clubs reportedly interested now.

The Daily Echo accredit Tottenham Hotspur with holding an interest, while the North London club could face competition from a number of top European sides looking for a midfield enforcer.

The Saints, however, are keen on keeping hold of the Kenya international, and Koeman said ahead of this weekend’s game at Aston Villa that Les Reed is in talks with the player.

''What I know is that the club, Les Reed, is talking to Victor and talking to his agent about his future in the club and about his contract. I don’t know what the state is of that talks,” Koeman told the Daily Echo.

''We like to keep Victor in the club and that’s why Les Reed is talking to the player and to his agent. It’s always the same problem if you have a player in your team, in your club, who goes in his last year of contract like it was with Clyne.

"That makes it more difficult because we don’t like to leave players who are out of contract, and that’s not the business what Southampton likes to do.”

Wanyama has been a key player for Southampton this season, starting 25 Premier League matches.

The 24-year-old operates i -front of the back four and allows the club’s more attack-minded players the freedom to be creative in the final third, knowing the defence is well protected.

Wanyama averages an impressive three tackles, 2.2 interceptions and two clearances per league encounter.