AS Roma is reportedly lining up a shock move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama.
The Italian giants had hoped to sign Steven N’Zonzi during the summer but have been so far unsuccessful. Steven N’Zonzi is waiting for a call from Arsenal to sign him from Sevilla, despite interest from AS Roma, according to reports in Italy.
Sunday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Roma had reached an agreement over personal terms with the player, worth up to €3m per season. However, N’Zonzi refused to allow the transfer to go through, as he expects a move from Arsenal.
Kenya international Victor Wanyama has now emerged as an alternative, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. N’Zonzi is seemingly more keen on a move back to the Premier League than a switch to Serie A with Arsenal and Everton both linked with a swoop for his services before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Wanyama joined Spurs from Southampton in 2016 and made 24 appearances in all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino last term.
Wanyama signed for Premier League side Southampton for a fee claimed to be £12.5 million, making him the first Kenyan to ever play in the Premier League.
He made his debut on 17 August 2013, in 1–0 away win against West Bromwich Albion. Wanyama made 24 appearances in his first season, but injuries hindered his efforts to make much of an impact in the team.
He made his debut on 17 August 2013, in 1–0 away win against West Bromwich Albion. Wanyama made 24 appearances in his first season, but injuries hindered his efforts to make much of an impact in the team.
Under new manager Ronald Koeman, Wanyama came into his own in the 2014–15 season. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 league victory over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on 20 September 2014, after replacing James Ward-Prowse in the 69th minute.
His next goal came in an 8–0 trouncing of Sunderland on 19 October 2014. Wanyama would score his third goal for the Saints in spectacular fashion, a 40-yard shot after Eldin Jakupović’s poor clearance fell straight to him, in what proved to be the only goal in a win over Hull City.
His performances saw him awarded the league’s African Player of the Month for September, with him stating “It is wonderful being recognised as someone who has done well for his club
Wanyama joined Spurs in June 2016 signing a five-year contract for a fee of £11 million. Wanyama had previously worked with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino who brought him to Southampton in July 2013.
Wanyama scored his first goal for the club on his home debut against Crystal Palace, in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 league win for Spurs. The goal made him the 138th different player to score for the club, extending its record for the most variety of goalscorers for a single club in the Premier League.
Early in the 2017–18 season, Wanyama injured his knee in the match against Chelsea and was sidelined for over four months. He returned to training in mid-December. On 2 January 2018, he made his first appearance after his injury, as a substitute in the away match against Swansea City.
Wanyama became the first ever Kenyan player to score in the UEFA Champions League when he scored the first goal in Celtic
‘s 2–1 win over Barcelona on 7 November 2012. On 11 July 2013, Wanyama moved to Premier League club Southampton for £12.5 million making him the most expensive player sold by a Scottish club, surpassing the £9.5 million Russian club Spartak Moscow paid for Aiden McGeady in 2010.
He has earned over 40 caps for the Kenyan national team since making his international debut in May 2007 at the age of 15.Wanyama attended Kamukunji High School, which fields a successful football team. Upon leaving High School, he also played with JMJ Academy for three years during which time he also joined Kenyan Premier League clubs Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards.