Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said Victor Wanyama remains in his plans despite the fact the midfielder almost left before the close of the transfer window.
Wanyama was heavily linked with a move to Club Brugge in the days leading up the the European deadline but a move failed to materialise. The Kenyan, who has two years remaining on his contract, is yet to play a single minute for Spurs this season.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace, Pochettino revealed Wanyama and Christian Eriksen – who was also linked with an exit throughout the summer window – remain in his plans, though they must now refocus on helping the team.
“Always it’s difficult [to sell players] and then I think we are all agreed that Tottenham have more rumours than other clubs,” Pochettino said (via the Guardian). “In one month I think the rumours will start again because the situation of the squad is going to help those rumours appear. Now it’s a time to be positive.
“Victor Wanyama is in my plans. Christian is in my plans. Before I understood that they were in a difficult situation and, of course, we tried to help them, to help the club, to do their business. When it’s one player [who wants to leave], then OK. But when it’s a few players, who start to make it difficult to create a good dynamic, a positive dynamic … Now we need to start to win games. Be refocused and who is not refocused is going to be out.”
Eriksen has just one year left on his deal, and Pochettino has urged the Dane to be fully committed until the last day of his contract, regardless of what happens when it expires.
The Spurs boss added: “When you sign the contract, like Christian who signed for five or six years, you need to be committed from day one to the last day. He isn’t not going to show the commitment because there’s only one year left. The difference is whether he wants to extend the contract or not. Different players have different goals.
“No one is going to say: ‘I want to leave the club’ and, if no one wants you, then you say: ‘No, I love the club.’ You kill yourself then. The reality is that managers, players, coaching staff – sometimes they have one year left and they are happy; others need a different challenge.”
We think Eriksen will start against Palace (check out our predicted XI here), but Wanyama will surely struggle for game time this term following the arrival of Tanguy Ndombele. Indeed, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wanyama leave in January.
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