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Southampton under pressure again as Spurs line up midfield star

| 20.08.2015

As the close of the transfer window creeps closer, Southampton players are finding themselves increasingly popular around the rest of the Premier League.

Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin have already left the south coast club this summer, following the mass exodus of the previous year, and now two more men are heavily linked with moves away.

Although the latest media offerings suggest winger Sadio Mane, who has impressed greatly since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg, will not be moving to Manchester United, there are rumblings that Tottenham are in the hunt to land Victor Wanyama.

Mauricio Pochettino, who managed the Kenyan during his time in the St Mary’s dugout, is keen to add Wanyama to a midfield that has undergone a huge facelift in north London during the off-season.

Etienne Capoue, Benjamin Stambouli and Paulinho have all departed the scene at Spurs this summer, leaving Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb as the undisputed first-choice pairing for the Argentine.

After such upheaval though, Pochettino is now perhaps one man light in the middle of the park, something evidenced by Eric Dier’s selection in the position during the first few games of the season.

Although Schneiderlin, who has since moved to Old Trafford, was an initial target for Spurs this summer, the club haven’t moved too far off track in finding an alternative.

Wanyama has been an impressive if unheralded member of the Saints squad in the last two seasons, but provides stability, power and athleticism to the defensive midfield role.

The 24-year-old improved greatly under Ronald Koeman last term, scoring his first three goals for the club and playing all bar six top-flight games, but it is believed the relationship with Pochettino is stronger and a desire to work with the Argentine again may help Spurs land their man.

Tottenham, still looking for their first win of the season, are 17/10 to beat the undefeated Leicester at the King Power Stadium next time out.

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Author

Matt Wiggins

No idyllic sound comes close to leather on willow for Matt, whose previous experience includes stints with Spin Magazine and Surrey County Cricket Club. It's not just cricket that interests him though, with football, golf, tennis and any American sport not played on ice all high on his list of favourites.