Victor Wanyama to Arsenal: Arsene Wenger makes Southampton midfielder 'top priority' as Francis Coquelin replacement

Coquelin is not expected to return until at least Ferbruary

Victor Wanyama and Xherdan Shaqiri tussle for the ball (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has made Victor Wanyama his top January target as he attempts to fill the void left by the absence of Francis Coquelin.

The Southampton midfielder has been linked with an exit from St Mary's for each of the last two windows, with Tottenham Hotspur chasing hard in the summer.

According to the Daily Mirror, Wenger is desperate to strengthen in midfield with Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky all out injured, while Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also injury-prone.

Wanyama, 24, had interested Wenger while he was still at Celtic.

Spurs had a £12million bid turned down by Southampton last summer for the 6ft 2in Kenyan, with Ronald Koeman again facing the prospect of losing one of his best players.

With qualification from the Champions League group stage achieved midweek, Wenger knows he needs a bigger squad to compete at home and in Europe.

Arsenal were the only team in Europe's top five leagues not to sign an outfield player in the summer, but there is cash available to spend, as there was then.