22 Aug 2015

Transfer Priority: 'Outstanding' £20m star Liverpool tried to buy demands transfer. Sign?

How about this for perfect timing: Liverpool (arguably) need a strong, powerful holding midfielder, and with ten days of the transfer window remaining, it appears that one-time Reds target Victor Wanyama want out of Southampton. Great chance for LFC to solve a long-standing problem?

Sky Sports reports today:

"According to Sky Sources, Victor Wanyama has told Southampton he wants to leave, and and that he sees his future elsewhere".

Liverpool were linked with Wanyama for over a year before his £12m move to Southampton, and with Lucas seemingly on the outs at Anfield, the Kenyan international is an enticing option to replace him.

When asked this week about Wanyama's future, Saints boss Ronaldo Koeman told reporters:

"Listen, there is no bid for any player. Not for Wanyama, not for Sadio, not anyone. Wanyama is not for sale."

Spurs and Arsenal are also tracking Wanyama, and in a recent interview, the £20m-rated midfielder suggested that the Gunners are a favoured option:

"[Arsene] Wenger...has let it be known he would like to sign me this summer. Arsenal are a great club and I’d love to play Champions League football.”


Well, if Wanyama - hailed this month as 'outstanding' by Ronald Koemn - has his heart set on Arsenal and the Champions League, then that rules out Liverpool, but Anfield seems to be the destination of choice for Southampton stars who want out, so anything is possible.

This could be the Dejan Lovren situation all over again, though. In 2013, Liverpool were constantly linked with Lovren, but he ended up at Southampton in an £8m deal. A year later, the price had risen by 150%, and the Reds slapped down a ridiculous £20m fee.


If Rodgers goes after Wanyama, the same thing will probably happen: to seal the deal, Liverpool may have to pay much more than £12m. That said, despite being fleeced by Southampton to tune £60m last summer, the Reds managed to get Clyne for only £12m, so there's a chance a fair transfer fee can be negotiated.

If Wanyama genuinely wants out, then that also weakens Southampton's bargaining position somewhat, and there's no point keeping an unhappy player.

Should Liverpool test Southampton's resolve, or is it a case of 'enough already!' with the Southampton players?

Author: Jaimie K


0 Comments:

Post a Comment