by Lewis Ambrose
Southampton’s Victor Wanyama has expressed a desire to play for Arsenal, while teammate Morgan Schneiderlin is pondering his future while on holiday.
In an interview with Kenyan TV Southampton powerhouse Victor Wanyama has spoken about the possibility to play for the Gunners.
Back in April Wanyama was reported to have said, “(Arsène) Wenger has been talking about me. He has let it be known he would like to sign me this summer.”
Quite a big claim, and one the player later denied, with Arsenal more heavily linked with his midfield partner Morgan Schneiderlin.
Interview
“It would be nice to move to Arsenal,” said Wanyama in this recent interview. On TV.
“But at this moment such decisions can only be made by Southampton and that is where my concentration is as a player.”
Wanyama, who will be 24 next month, has two years left to run on his Southampton contract and it’s unlikely that both he and Schneiderlin would be allowed to move this summer.
Southampton signed Wanyama for £12.5M from Celtic back in the summer of 2013 and, having since proven himself in the Premier League, Southampton would be looking for a large profit from any sale.
Promise
Southampton have already reportedly promised Schneiderlin that he will be allowed to go this year after he agitated for a move last summer and the club didn’t qualify for the Champions League.
The midfielder cryptically posted on Instagram this morning. Clearly enjoying his summer holidays, Schneiderlin is wondering where he will be next season.
He told Twitter and Instagram he is: “Thinking about what the future holds…”
Schneiderlin is more than keen to move and, having been linked with Arsenal for a while now, was said to be close to joining Manchester United in recent days.
Pair
As a pair Wanyama and Schneiderlin formed a midfield which proved to be almost impenetrable – only Chelsea (32) conceded fewer Premier League goals than the Saints (33) in the 2014/15 Premier League season.
Southampton will be incredibly reluctant to lose both and, with Schneiderlin surely on his way out, Wanyama will have to wait a bit longer if he really does want to move.
Even then it remains to be seen whether or not there is any interest from our side.
If Arsène Wenger wants one of these midfielders at the base of his midfield he should probably pursue the Frenchman.