Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama offered new five-year deal by Southampton

Victor Wanyama is being offered a new five-year deal by Southampton to keep him from the clutches of Tottenham in January.

Mirror Sport understands the north Londoners are set to return for the 24-year-old in the winter transfer window as Mauricio Pochettino sees him as the man to protect his back four.

The Saints may also need to launch a charm offensive with Wanyama as the furious Kenyan is understood to have told friends he has no intention of extending his current contract which has just two years left to run.

But Southampton executive director Les Reed said: "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."

We exclusively revealed two weeks ago that Spurs had targeted Wanyama as the man to solve their problems in midfield.

The former Celtic star was subsequently left out of two match day squads by boss Ronald Koeman who admitted Wanyama was not "mentally and physically good enough to play".

Spurs are understood to have had two bids rejected for him with defiant Koeman adamant that there would be no more sales following the departures of Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool and Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United.

The south coast side are also determined not strengthen a direct rival in the League.

Although Spurs bid £15million for West Ham midfielder Chiekou Kouyate, however, Wanyama remains their no.1 objective.

If Southampton fail to convince the midfielder to sign a new deal they could have no option but to sell.

Reed, however, insisted they will work hard to ensure Wanyama does not leave.

He went on: "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.

"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."