Victor Wanyama

[King Binny]

Name: Victor Wanyama
Position: Midfielder
Born: 25 Jun, 1991
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
Signed from: Beerschot AC, 01 Jul, 2011
Club Starts: 33
Sub Appearances: 10
Total Appearances: 43
Club Goals: 4
National Team: Kenya
Caps: 11

LIVERPOOL, QPR and Stoke are lining up big-money offers for wantaway Celtic star Victor Wanyama.

The three English sides will fight it out to fulfil the midfielder’s dream of playing in the English Premiership.

Clubs down south rate the 20-year-old Kenya international in the £8million bracket – well short of the £14m that will be demanded by Celtic to part with their star man.

The Parkhead side do not want to lose Wanyama but stand to make a huge profit on the player they signed a year ago from Beerschot AC for just £900,000.

Neil Lennon is comfortable with selling one of his main players during this window to boost his own transfer kitty. But it’s more likely he’d prefer to move on a player such as South Korean Ki Sung-Yueng – who is valued at £7m.

Wanyama, who played for his country last night as they lost 1-0 to Namibia in a World Cup qualifier, told friends on Friday he wants to quit Celtic and move to the Premiership.

That will interest new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers who has Wanyama on his list of potential summer signings.

The midfield area is key to his rebuilding plans at Anfield – and that’s why Wanyama is on his radar.

QPR will try to offload Joey Barton to fund a bumper bid for the Hoops favourite. Stoke will also register an official interest as their gaffer Tony Pulis is an admirer of the powerful and combative Kenyan.

Celtic are unhappy that news of Wanyama’s desires have been made public and will do all they can to hold onto who they see as a pivotal part of future plans.

CELTIC were hit with a hammer blow last night when it emerged Victor Wanyama wants to land a summer switch to England.

The Hoops midfielder feels he has already enhanced his reputation enough in the past 12 months in Scotland to earn a big money move to the glamour of England’s top flight.

And it’s understood several top Premier League sides already have the versatile powerhouse on their summer shopping lists.

The Hoops signed the Kenya international from Belgian side Beerschot AC last summer for £900,000 and he joined on a four-year deal at ‘entry level’ wages.

He was outstanding for Neil Lennon’s side last term as they romped to the SPL title and his employers feel his value has rocketed to more than £7million.

Celtic will, of course, try everything in their power to keep him but the player is adamant he wants to go for footballing reasons.

The English vultures may, however, face a fight from clubs in Italy to land the talented 20-year-old star.

He has a fine reputation in Serie A because of his brother, McDonald Mariga, who plays for Inter Milan.

Italian champs Juventus would be keen to bid for Wanyama but they have been informed his preference is a move to England.

He sees himself as a central midfielder but feels he may well be moved around by Lennon to accommodate others such as skipper Scott Brown and Beram Kayal.

Last season he played several games in central defence and although he was a stand-out in that area, it’s not his favoured position.

A friend of Wanyama’s said last night: “Victor has told a few of his international
team-mates he believes he is moving to the English Premiership this summer. He wants to play in England.

“He has sometimes felt undervalued but he really enjoyed last season at Celtic and it was an honour and privilege for him to help them win the league title.

“He also felt he built up a special relationship with the Celtic supporters.

“Victor hopes they can understand his reasons for wanting to leave.”

 

[Rafiagra]

Great, QPR and Stoke...

Let's hope that isn't a theme that develops over the summer

 

[RedZeppelin III]

again no idea who this lad is . is he decent or another mid table signing ?

 

[Oncy]

Im pretty sure ive tried his noodles.

 

[StevieM]

Where is this from... if it's from the press in Scotland, then it's absolute nonsense, dreamt up to deflect anything from the fact that Rangers will probably cease to exist as a football club on Thursday...

Fuck me... they had Rangers signing Gattuso the other day, despite the fact they're in adminstration and therefore cant sign players.

 

[King Binny]

Yeah, the latest one was from Scotland. He was linked with Newcastle last Dec by English press as possible replacement for Tiote.

 

[Squiggles]

Great, QPR and Stoke...

Let's hope that isn't a theme that develops over the summer

Shit teams frequently sign decent players. We shouldn't be so smug. If the player is good enough then nothing else matters.

 

[RedStar]

We have just raided Swansea for their manager, I dont see any point in us being snobbish about signing players QPR are in for, its clear we need a bit more muscular presence in midfield. Ive never seen this guy play but lets be honest we havent got champions league football to offer and we wont match the top clubs for wages, we lost alot of summer last year persueing the same targets as Utd only to lose out as we always do. id rather we work on identifying players who will improve the first team/squad that we can realistically expect to sign

 

[Sunny]

Im pretty sure ive tried his noodles.

He does boss duck gyoza too.

 

[themn]

Fuck me... they had Rangers signing Gattuso the other day, despite the fact they're in adminstration and therefore cant sign players.

The last I heard, that ruling had been deemed "unlawful".

 

[StevieM]

No - the ban on transfers was ruled unlawful - but that doesn't matter because a team in administration can't sign players while they're in administration.

The ban they got overturned only would have come in to effect had they come out of administration.

 

[themn]

Ok.

*shrug*

 

[King Binny]

VICTOR WANYAMA’S agent last night confirmed the Kenyan is poised to quit Celtic this summer.

The midfield powerhouse wants to test himself in the Premiership.

And with Liverpool, Stoke, QPR, Newcastle and West Ham lining up to hand him his dream move, Rob Moore said: “Victor is like any other young talented footballer in that he wants to play at the highest level.

“He has made the club aware that if they receive an offer from one of the big leagues he would like them to consider it.”

Clubs in Spain, France and Italy are also monitoring Wanyama’s contract situation.

Celtic signed the Kenya international from Belgian side Beerschot last summer for £900,000 and he joined a four-year deal at “entry level” wages.

The club’s valuation of the player has now rocketed to around £7million.

Moore hopes the Hoops will be prepared to listen to any offers that come in for his client but he stressed Wanyama is not unhappy with life at Celtic Park.

The agent said: “Victor is not unhappy at Celtic, far from it. He loves the club and everything has been great for him since he moved but should something come in he feels they should listen.”

Wanyama was outstanding for Neil Lennon’s men last term, helping them land their first SPL title for four years.

Lennon remains hopeful the club can tie Wanyama up on a lucrative long-term deal as they bid to reach the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2008.

 

[doctor_mac]

Anybody see enough of Celtic last season to make a call on this guy?