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Bent: Newcastle ‘would have loved’ Wanyama

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Newcastle “would have loved” to have signed Victor Wanyama this summer, according to Darren Bent. 

The 28-year-old is seemingly surplus to requirements at Spurs after the arrival of Tanguy Ndombele for a club record fee.

And Sky Sports pundit Bent has claimed that the Kenyan would have been an ideal fit at St. James’ Park.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Maybe he’s surplus to requirements but it surprises me no one picked up for a loan or something in the Premier League. He’s got a lot of experience, got a lot to offer. He’s that anchor in the midfield who will protect that back four.

“I am surprised he’s sitting there and no one inquired about him, he’s been a great servant, very, very good. At some stage he will leave there. It’s a settled squad and unfortunately, Victor Wanyama doesn’t fall into that bracket.

“Newcastle would have loved to have him, there’s a whole bunch of teams there who could use a big, powerful presence.”

OPINION

Wanyama would have been an inspired signing for Newcastle. The midfielder may not be able to get a game at Tottenham, but he has more than enough quality to be a real presence for a team lower down the table, and his experience at the very top level would have seen him bring a new level to the Magpies’ engine room. The Kenyan hasn’t been a regular starter for Spurs since 2016/17, but during that season he was a colossus, averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.9 clearances per match, as well as a pass completion rate of 87.5%, as per Whoscored. That kind of quality cannot be sniffed at for a team in Newcastle’s position, and even though they have Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff in that role, Wanyama would have been a marked improvement in a key area of the field. It would be a real surprise if nobody came in for him in January, but the Toon Army may have missed the boat on this one.

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