Gunners consider move for Saints star to fill midfield gap.
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Arsenal are understood to be weighing up a bid for Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama after failing in their efforts to bring in some of their other top transfer targets in that position this summer.
The Gunners are known to be keen on bringing in a top class defensive midfielder, with big names such as Real Madrid star Sami Khedira and Sporting Lisbon youngster William Carvalho being linked as their main priorities, while another Southampton player in Morgan Schneiderlin has also been mentioned as a candidate.
Still, with Khedira’s wages proving a stumbling block and Schneiderlin possibly favouring a move to Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsene Wenger has turned his attention towards Wanyama, who was also linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium during his time at previous club Celtic.
The Kenyan international shot to fame with his superb displays for the SPL giants, particularly in the Champions League, attracting interest from other big names such as Manchester United and Liverpool before he eventually joined Southampton last summer.
Injuries have prevented the highly promising 23-year-old from reaching his best form in the Premier League, but Arsenal remain big admirers of his as they consider bringing in a new signing in midfield this summer.
The north London giants hope an opening offer of around £15m may be enough to tempt the Saints into selling the player, with Ronald Koeman’s side having already offloaded a huge number of their best players in this transfer window so far.
Three big names in Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren have all joined Liverpool, while Luke Shaw made the big-money move to Manchester United. Arsenal have also capitalised on the club’s willingness to sell their best players, with a £16m deal for talented young right-back Calum Chambers.
Wanyama could be the next on his way out if Arsenal are successful in their efforts to lure him away from the St Mary’s Stadium, and he would certainly prove a useful option to the team as an upgrade on the likes of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini.
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