Spurs defender Kevin Wimmer has revealed he wants to quit in search of regular first-team football elsewhere.
The 24-year-old Austrian has made it clear that he is more focused on finding an exit-route out of north London than in the club’s preparations for the new season.
Wimmer has played just 15 league games since signing from Cologne for £4.3million two years ago.
Spurs are looking at £10million Estudiantes defender Juan Foyth , 19, as a potential replacement.
Southampton have an interest in Wimmer and the centre-back admitted he wants to remain in English football.
He said: “It would be the most beautiful to stay in the Premier League.
“Twenty-four years is exactly the age at which it is most important to play regularly and not only have to train week after week and have to sit down on the bench at the game.
“In the next few days and weeks, the main focus will certainly be placed on what is there for offers, and we will definitely look around, it’s time to look for something, where the chances of regular use are again higher.”
Cologne are also keen on a reunion with Wimmer but he maintains he is ready to fulfil his potential in the Premier League.
“I believe that Cologne is always a very nice step for me, you have to look at what happens. But I would prefer it if I could remain in the Premier League.”
| Virgil Van Dijk Puts In Written Request | Virgil Van Dijk has handed in a written transfer request to Les Reed on the first day of the team’s trip to Austria … 10-07-2017 |
MAURICIO Pellegrino has revealed the 28-man squad he’s taking to Austria for this week’s pre-season training camp - and, yes, it includes Virgil van Dijk.
The Saints boss takes his players away today for the first of two trips this summer, with a visit to France booked in for later this month after a friendly at Brentford on July 22.
The Austria camp concludes on Saturday with a friendly against Swiss outfit St Gallen, which will be Pellegrino’s first game in charge.
The continuous stream of gossip relating to Van Dijk’s future has rumbled on in recent weeks, with new reports in a national newspaper suggesting the Dutchman “wants to push through” a move to Liverpool.
But despite his alleged unrest, the centre-back, who Saints are adamant they’ll be keeping at St Mary’s this summer, has travelled with the squad.
New signing Jan Bednarek, Cedric Soares, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond and Jack Stephens are not heading to Austria, having been involved in international tournaments. They will come back to the fold later this month after a break.
Here’s the full list of players heading to Austria:
Saints are heading abroad today for their first trip of the summer, with a visit to France also to follow later in the month.
The camp will be Pellegrino’s first as the club’s manager, and will conclude with a friendly match against St Gallen, in Switzerland, on Saturday.
A number of the club’s young players will also make the trip, as they complement the senior members of the squad who have already returned for pre-season.
Cédric, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond, Jack Stephens, Matt Targett and new signing Jan Bednarek will not be part of the camp, as they are due to return later this month, because of their international involvement this summer.
At least that’s the verdict of talkSPORT pundit Ray Wilkins in the wake of their club-record capture of Mohamed Salah from Roma.
Salah, 25, completed a move to Anfield last month which could end up costing the Reds more than £40m if he’s a success.
But Wilkins reckons Jurgen Klopp would have been better off allocating those funds to signing Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton.
The Holland international was thought to be the Liverpool gaffer’s top target before he had to call off his pursuit because of allegations the centre-back had been tapped up.
Saints flew out on Monday for their first trip of the summer, getting straight to work on arrival.
They will continue to train throughout the week, largely taking part in double sessions, before facing St Gallen in their opening friendly of the summer, on Saturday.
With another training camp to France to follow later in the month, Pellegrino says the coming weeks are crucial.
"Today was our first day together, because on Friday we received ten players [back from international duty] more or less, and we are waiting for the third group to receive another five,” he said.
"Every single day is important for us, because in these six weeks for us we have to create one style of playing, one model, one behaviour, an understanding between the players and the manager, between medical staff and us, and not just inside the pitch but also outside the pitch.
“We have to meet how they are, because you know that in modern football today there is a lot of diversity. We are a lot of people with different behaviours, different beliefs and we have to try to unify all the things, to create one team on the pitch.”
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