Arsenal Could Trade With Southampton For Victor Wanyama

Arsenal could be using a Calum Chambers’ loan deal to barter with Southampton for the services of Victor Wanyama in the transfer window.

Arsenal are in dire need of a defensive midfielder to reinforce the base of their formation. According to Arsene Wenger, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry, one of the best options out there is Victor Wanyama. Wanyama is a big, physical midfielder who has the strength to impose his will on the middle of the pitch. Essentially, he is exactly what Arsenal need.

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Unfortunately for Arsenal, Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is still playing the evil stepmother to Wanyama’s Cinderella.

“Don’t spend time trying to buy a player from Southampton because it’s impossible,” the Saints boss said via TalkSport. “We know what we like to do and how we like to do our business. That means in January nobody will leave Southampton.”

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Normally that would be it, call off the dogs, we can’t have Wanyama. But Koeman said a similar thing about Morgan Schneiderlin before the Frenchman dipped out of Southampton to join the Manchester Mercenaries. Koeman can resist all he wants, but if Victor Wanyama pushes hard enough, he could spring a deal.

Not only that, but interesting news has emerged recently that Arsenal could be set to send Calum Chambers back to his former club on loan for the rest of the year (via the Sun). That is very peculiar seeing as how Wenger has stated that Chambers is here to cover for Francis Coquelin. If he is willing to loan out Chambers, clearly he has another incoming player, otherwise he is being reckless and, dare I say, ignorant.

Without Chambers to deputize for our current deputy, Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal would be even thinner and more barren that we ever though possible. There would be no other solution. Surely that is a plan behind this apparent madness. Arsene Wenger has left Arsenal thin before, but that was at a time when the Emirates were being paid off. Not at a time where Arsenal has incredibly financial power and the best shot to win the Premier League in a decade.

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One possible solution, although it is a stretch, is that the deal to send Chambers to Southampton is being met with a return coming in the exact opposite direction in the form of Victor Wanyama. Arsenal has considered moves like these in the past, but none have ever gone through. That is what awakened the idea.

Not only that, but even with Wanyama valued at a reported £20-25 million, Arsenal reportedly bid £15 million. It would make sense if they were looking to get Wanyama for £15 million plus the services of Calum Chambers for the rest of the year.

It would take a shrewd bit of business but it would work for both sides. Wanyama wants out, Chambers wants play time, Chambers still has fond feelings for Southampton, Arsenal needs a defensive midfielder and Arsene Wenger loves budget deals. Everyone wins.

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Of course, if Koeman is taking his job as the evil step mother seriously, this may be all a bunch of throwing change into a fountain that is in no way a wishing well. Which makes it just silly.