Victor Wanyama to Tottenham Hotspur: Deal closer than ever as Southampton midfielder set for medical

Tottenham Hotspur are quickly closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window, with widespread reports suggesting Southampton's Victor Wanyama will undergo a medical on Monday (20 June) ahead of a proposed move. Such a transfer, providing it is completed with no late hiccups, will mark the second time that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has signed the powerful defensive midfielder, after originally sealing his switch to St Mary's from Scottish champions Celtic three years ago.

According to multiple sources, including Sky Sports, Kenyan Wanyama travelled back to the UK from Nairobi over the weekend and is ready to complete the necessary formalities after a fee in excess of £11m ($16m) was agreed between the two clubs.

The 24-year-old, out of contract in 2017, has been a long-term target for Tottenham and courted controversy before last year's deadline by trying to force through a move to north London with the aid of a transfer request. He was subsequently dropped for the 3-0 victory over Norwich City in August and declared not "mentally and physically good enough to play" by frustrated manager Ronald Koeman, before being restored to the side two weeks later.

Southampton remained defiant on that occasion, although they are set for another summer of significant upheaval after Koeman relinquished his post last week in order to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Martinez's departure from Everton.

Wanyama's imminent arrival will further strengthen an already enviable Tottenham engine room patrolled so successfully by centre-back convert Eric Dier in 2015/16, when Pochettino's charges fought tooth and nail with Leicester City for the Premier League title before a late slump saw them slip to third behind rivals Arsenal. Midfield partner Mousa Dembele is also highly-regarded, although the skillful Belgian international will miss the first four matches of next season due to a six-game ban handed down by the Football Association for violent conduct in the aftermath of his eye gouge on Chelsea's Diego Costa.

With the versatile Dele Alli traditionally deployed further forward behind Harry Kane, Wanyama will compete with academy graduates Ryan Mason and Tom Carroll for a starting role. Nabil Bentaleb underwent knee surgery in March and appears to be surplus to requirements amid reported interest from the likes of Crystal Palace and Serie A outfit Napoli.