Tottenham are looking to strengthen their squad this summer and add more quality and depth to challenge the best of teams in the UEFA Champions League next season.
According to reports (Mirror), the North Londoners are closing in on a 11 million pounds deal to sign a strong defensive midfielder in the form of Kenyan international Victor Wanyama.
The 24-year-old African joined the Saints under the management of Pochettino in 2013. Now, the “quality” star (BritsinKenya) is widely regarded as the one of the best holding midfield players in the Premier League.
At the moment, Eric Dier is Tottenham’s first choice defensive midfielder and the England international impressed big time under the management of the Argentine boss.
Spurs had the best defensive record in the league last season and Pochettino does not really need to field two defensive midfielders in his starting XI.
However, Dier who directly contributed in 5 goals last season has the ability to play a creative role in the center of the park as well and Wanyama will never join Spurs to warm the bench.
Here is how Spurs will line up with Wanyama.
How Tottenham will Line up with Victor Wanyama
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You seem to have forgotten Dembele, the midfielder who makes a difference!
Big selection dilemma here. Dier was also consistent and played what 36 league games last season.
If Dembele starts, who will/should partner him…Dier or Wanyama?? The article rightly points out that Wanyama will not move to warm the bench and Pochettino is a huge fan. He was immense under Poch at Southampton
Did whoever contributed this report watch spurs last season? It seems like everyone is out to drop dembele. He was so consistent for us last season making strong on the ball and in the tackle. Tracking back he can turn defensive into attack with his surging runs which makes him a very exciting player to watch. I get his banned for first few days and we need cover but then what after that. I personally thought he was one of our best players last season.
Dembele has to start!!!! As does dier!!. Wanyama will not get in this starting line up
Without Dembells last year we were average..any talk of replacing him is nonsense…Coys
Wanyama might not be joining to “warm the bench” but neither is he joining and taking the place of Dier or Dembele. He’s a bright enough bloke to know he’d be joining a very efficient midfield pairing and would have to earn a spot in it. He’d be lucky to join at a time where a spot is temporarily open, with Dembele suspended, so could try and cement a place early. There’ll be enough games for all 3 next season anyway, plus it’d give the manager the option of dropping Dier back into defence when needed.
Dembele will not be dropped for Wnayama. Wanyama is to provide quality cover and competition for Dier. They’ll probably be rotated in the same manner Walker was rotated with Trippier and Rose with Davies. It brings out the best in both and that would be the aim for every position in the team, including Dembele’s (when we can find a player with similar strength and quality to provide cover and competition). Soccerisma doesn’t understand – a top team thinks in terms of a squad of 22 players, not just the starting 11.