Southampton won't take £20m from Spurs so Wanyama will run down contract

Victor Wanyama was a late midfield target for Tottenham Hotspur, and Spurs apparently made a late bid to Southampton for his services. It didn't go according to plan. Now a new detail from Duncan Castles has emerged about the nature of that bid and its subsequent rejection.

Understand that Tottenham's offer for Victor Wanyama was £20m. Southampton refused so player now intends to run down contract. #THFC #SFC

— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) September 1, 2015

So, Southampton has rejected actual cash money from for their want-away midfielder who has already submitted a transfer request and stated that he wants to leave the club. Depending on how you view the world, either Southampton either feels like he's a key component to their side this season (he really is) and they don't feel like they can lose him, or relations between Soton and Tottenham have deteriorated to the point where they'd rather flip Daniel Levy the bird and let their player walk on a Bosman than sell Wanyama to Spurs. And now Wanyama's joined Kenya for international duty, so any chance of a transfer is kaput.

Don't know about anyone else, but I don't think they teach that negotiation tactic at business school.

EDIT: Wanyama's contract doesn't expire until the end of next season, so it's not certain that Southampton would let him walk for free. However, they certainly don't want to sell him to Spurs, so.