Liverpool are eyeing a transfer swoop for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama, according to reports. Emre Can looks set to become a free agent this summer as his current deal expires at the end of the current campaign and it looks likely that the midfielder will leave Anfield having so far failed to come to an agreement over a new deal.
Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of Can and is not willing to let the midfielder leave the club for free in the summer. However, he would have no control if the German midfielder decides to end his stay at Anfield and move on to another club for a different adventure.
While Can leaving our club looks imminent, Liverpool legend and now youth team coach Steven Gerrard has already tipped Klopp to solve his midfield woes in the summer by trying to sign a midfielder in the mould of Wanyama.
“We’ll have to see what happens. Emre Can is leaving but (Naby) Keita is coming in,” Gerrard told BT Sport, suggesting Can could leave the club (h/t the Daily Mirror).
“I think Liverpool would benefit from a monster of a centre-midfielder, a holder,” he added.
“A Wanyama-type player who does sit in and is disciplined, and he would give more protection to the back four.”
As per the Daily Mail, Liverpool have started monitoring the progress of Spurs midfielder Victor Wanyama. The Kenyan is strong, defensively resolute and offers solid protection to Tottenham’s back four. He could be the ideal solution to shield Liverpool’s defence should Can decide to leave the club in summer.
Wanyama signed for the Lilywhites in June 2016 and has made 13 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side so far this season. The former Southampton man has been mainly limited to substitute appearances since recovering from a knee injury.
The 26-year-old, who isn’t renowned for his goal-scoring abilities, scored a stunning long-range goal which flew past goalkeeper Loris Karius against Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Anfield a couple of weeks ago.
Having missed a large chunk of football this season due to injury, Wanyama is back in the reckoning now for Pochettino’s side.
Liverpool would find it very difficult to negotiate a transfer for Wanyama. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is a master of playing hardball and given the fact that the Kenyan is very central to Pochettino’s future plans, a move to Anfield looks highly unlikely ahead of next season.
