Unsettled Wanyama ‘snubs’ Saints’ match
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has asked Southampton not to involve him in any matches until the issue surrounding his future at the club is ironed out, Nairobi News understands.
Wanyama, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham, was left out of his club’s squad that will face FC Midtjylland in a Europa League clash on Thursday night.
However, Southampton coach Ronald Koemen insisted in his pre-match comments that he “has to believe” the words from the team doctor who suggested that the midfielder was under the weather.
“I have to believe the doctor. I hope he will be available for the weekend, but have to wait. Victor isn’t travelling with the team because from yesterday (Tuesday) on he was ill,” Koemen was quoted by English daily The Guardian.
“The latest update of the doctor this afternoon is that he had a stomach infection. I hope he will be available for the weekend but we have to wait,” the coach added.
UNSETTLED
However the player is privately believed to be unsettled at Southampton and wants to move to Tottenham, a club managed his his former boss Mauricio Pocchettino.
According to sources close to the player that Nairobi News spoke to, Wanyama is concerned by the departure of key players at the club with Morgan Schnierdelen and Nathaniel Clyne the latest to leave for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Wanyama is also understood to not have taken lightly a suggestion by Koemen early last season that he was “too much of a defensive player”, a period that coincided with the former Celtic player confinement to the bench.
Southampton now faces the dilemma of holding on to a player who has his eyes trained on a new challenge. The Saints also risk losing a sizeable chunk of money that could be realised from Wanyama’s sale should his current contract run down to one year.
Wanyama’s advisors have in the past publicly clashed with his former employers at Celtic and are known to be tough in negotiating contracts.