Victor Wanyama offered new five-year deal by Southampton Last Updated: 02/09/15 10:35am
Southampton have opened talks with Victor Wanyama about a new five-year deal after his rumoured transfer to Tottenham failed to materialise. The Kenyan midfielder was linked with a move to White Hart Lane and Sky sources understand he asked to leave St Mary's in order to push things through. But Mauricio Pochettino - Wanyama's old manager at Southampton - never submitted a bid and the former Celtic player remains in Ronald Koeman's squad.
Koeman did not select Wanyama for Sunday's 3-0 win over Norwich, saying the 24-year-old was not "mentally and physically good enough to play".
Now, with the summer transfer window closed, Southampton are bidding to tie him down on a long-term contract.
Koeman was keen to retain Wanyama after losing Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United and ultimately got his wish.
Southampton executive director Les Reed confirmed discussions about a new agreement, which would keep Wanyama at the club until 2020, have begun.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "We've already tried to start negotiations on that. We've offered him the opportunity for a long-term extension. "We'd like to tie him down for another five years. Whether that's possible or not, I don't know but the opportunity is there to do that. "He was a little bit unsettled and I think that has to happen probably at most clubs with different players. The speculation does raise a few eyebrows.
"Maybe it got a little bit too hyped up and maybe Victor thought there was a bit more truth in the rumours than there was.
"Now it's over, he's gone home to Kenya and I think he'll enjoy some time with his family and come back and be settled and raring to go in our team."
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9976132/victor-wanyama-offered-new-five-year-deal-by-southampton
