Victor Wanyama’s future has been up in the air in recent months and was further speculated about after Tanguy Ndombele arrival from Olympique Lyonnais. Tottenham’s links with Giovani Lo Celso of Real Betis and Dani Ceballos of Real Madrid also raise questions about Wanyama’s place in the squad next season, and it appears he could indeed be on the move.
According to Joe Bernstein of the Mail on Sunday, Wanyama has been placed on the transfer list by Mauricio Pochettino. The Spurs manager needs to raise funds for new arrivals and has a list of players that he’s willing to sell this summer. It’s a blow for Wanyama but not surprising. There will be more competition for places in 2019/20 and the 28-year-old wasn’t a regular when fit last season.
Wanyama made 22 appearances in all competitions in 2018/19, racking up less than 1000 minutes of football. He was handed only four Premier League starts under Pochettino last season and could find himself behind the likes of Ndombele, Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier and Dele Alli in the upcoming campaign.
If he is sold this summer, the Kenyan international shouldn’t be short of offers in the Premier League. When fit, Wanyama is a brilliant defensive-midfielder who can break up the play (one tackle/interception every 26 minutes), retain possession (81% pass completion) and dominate the middle of the park (50 aerial duels won, 66% dribble success rate).