SAINTS fans would welcome Victor Wanyama being given a new contract at St Mary’s – despite his desire to leave.

The midfielder was a target for Tottenham in the final days of the transfer window, informing the club he wanted out so that he could move to White Hart Lane.

Wanyama did not play in last Sunday’s 3-0 win over Norwich, with Koeman saying the player had told him he was not physically or mentally ready to feature in the match.

He had also missed the previous game - the 1-0 Europa League defeat away to FC Midtjylland - with an apparent stomach infection.

However, Saints kept the 24-year-old against his wishes, with executive director of football Les Reed subsequently revealing they are trying to negotiate a new five-year deal with him.

Wanyama’s current contract runs until the summer of 2017, meaning his value will start to noticeably drop at the end of the season.

But despite the Kenya international making it clear he wanted to leave, more than three-quarters of supporters in a poll on the Daily Echo website said they would welcome him signing a new deal at Saints.

Of the hundreds who voted, 76 per cent said they would be happy to see him agree a new contract.

“We’ve already tried to start negotiations on that,” Reed told Sky Sports.

“We’ve offered him the opportunity for a long-term extension. We’d like to tie him down for another five years. Whether that’s possible or not, I don’t know, but the opportunity is there to do that.”

Reed, who has revealed that there was never a “serious bid” made for Wanyama, added: “He was a little bit unsettled and I think that has to happen probably at most clubs with different players.

“The speculation does raise a few eyebrows. Maybe it got a little bit too hyped up and maybe Victor thought there was a bit more truth in the rumours than there was.

“Now it’s over, he’s gone home to Kenya and I think he’ll enjoy some time with his family and come back and be settled and raring to go in our team.”

 

Supporter Michael Loosemore on the Daily Echo’s Saints Facebook page wrote: “He’s a good player but there’s no point in keeping someone who doesn’t want to be here all he will do is drag the team down.”

Callum Stanley said: “Longer contract would mean we’ve got a better chance of getting decent money for him, however long he wants to stay.”

Neil Hotston said: “Yes absolutely - I don’t like football and players the way things are today but that’s they way it is.”