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Wanyama Offered New Contract

Saints are insinuating that speculation unsettled Victor Wanyama rather than a true desire to leave and that ongoing contract talks are set to continue on his return from International duty.

After the departure of Morgan Schnederlin Saints were keen to open contract negotiations with Victor Wanyama and apparently did so several weeks ago, then came the alleged interest from Tottenham Hotspur and this seemed to unsettle the player.

However with the transfer window now closed there seems to be varying stories about just how serious Spurs where, some news outlets are saying that Spurs were offering in the region of £20 million, others that it was a substancial cash plus player deal and others that Spurs offered less than Saints had paid for Wanyama two years ago. Indeed some reports say that Spurs made no bid at all.

It all added up to confusion all around and after the outburst from West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace, you have to wonder whether Spurs were playing with a completely straight bat here and what their true intentions were to Wanyama.

What did happen though was it unsettled the player and he found it hard to concentrate on his game, whether that has affected Saints in terms of the Europa League is open to speculation itself, but now that is in the past and both the club and Wanyama and indeed the Saints supporters have to move on and do what is best for the club itself.

That means letting Wanyama come back into the fold with little backlash, a year ago Morgan Schneiderlin did so and had a great season which culminated in us banking £25 million, we need to make sure that there is a positive outcome with Wanyama.

But Saints are keen to tie the Kenyan to a long term deal and are hoping to get him to sign a five year contract in the coming weeks.

Southampton executive director Les Reed has confirmed that those talks are still ongoing.He told Sky Sports News HQ:

"We've already tried to start negotiations on that. We've offered him the opportunity for a long-term extension.

"We'd like to tie him down for another five years. Whether that's possible or not, I don't know but the opportunity is there to do that.

"He was a little bit unsettled and I think that has to happen probably at most clubs with different players. The speculation does raise a few eyebrows.

"Maybe it got a little bit too hyped up and maybe Victor thought there was a bit more truth in the rumours than there was.

"Now it's over, he's gone home to Kenya and I think he'll enjoy some time with his family and come back and be settled and raring to go in our team."

Reed is in a little bit of a damned if he does, damned if he doesn't situation here, on one hand the fans want to hear something from the club on the situation, but on the other hand Reed will not want to make a rod for his own back or indeed make the situation worse.

Certainly this hs been the case in the past when statements have been made about players that left the club with egg on its face when those players did not sign nw deals and left.

Most supporters would want the club to be firm, but as for making claims about new contracts it is best kept quiet about until the contract has been signed.

With so many varying stories doing the rounds, we need to let the dust settle, let Wanyama return to the club and then start those talks without saying too much about what is or isn't on the table.

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