Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target, Morgan Schneiderlin, has supposedly stated he would prefer a move to the Gunners this summer.
The 25-year-old has been heavily rumoured with a move to either side, after both clubs made a statement of intent to add reinforcements to their defensive midfield area.
Schneiderlin has enjoyed another impressive season under Ron Koeman’s Southampton side, racking up 25 appearances in all competitions and recording an average pass rate of 89.6%.
And we are now approaching a year since the French international was denied a move away from Southampton, after he did all he could to get The Saints to European football next season.
But it seems as if the club have no option but to allow Schneiderlin to move on to a club who can offer Champions League football, which will ultimately raise his game to another level.
And until now, it seemed unclear as to where the midfield would end up, with both the Premier League rivals fighting over the £24million rated man. Last night the papers suggested he would certainly join Manchester United.
However, ESPN said earlier today that Schneiderlin was still considering two offers and after a recent tweet from well-respected football journalist and broadcaster, Phillipe Auclair, it seems the Frenchman may have made up his mind.
Auclair has been told that the preferred destination for midfield star lies at Arsenal.
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However, Arsenal fans can’t get too carried away just yet, as Auclair also reported that certain terms in the transfer were struggling to be ironed out. Suggestions of those specific problems could be down to the details of his contract, which could include several release clauses that need to be agreed by both parties.
And although that remains unknown for now, we can be sure that the negotiations haven’t hit a snag due to player wages, after the Gunners aim to close in on the sales of Lukas Podolski and David Ospina.
Schneiderlin left the media in a frenzy earlier in the week as he confirmed that talks were definitely being held for a move away from St. Mary’s, however the end destination still remains a mystery.
Whilst returning from international duty, the midfield ace spoke to national radio station, France Bleu Alsace;
The negotiations are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days.
Hopefully before the resumption (Southampton’s pre-season) of training next week.
The fee for Schneiderlin has to be taken with a pinch of salt at the moment, with Manchester United reportedly very close to making a deal for the player.
That could spark a bidding war between the two managers, as they look to snap up the best of what is on offer of the limited names this summer.
Arsene Wenger will look to advance talks as soon as the Petr Cech deal is confirmed, after the Chelsea shot-stopper underwent a medical earlier on today.
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