Arsenal Told To Pay £27m For POWERHOUSE Manchester United Target

Morgan Schneiderlin, who has also been linked with Manchester United has reportedly told friends he prefers to play under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

The only stumbling block, however, would be Southampton’s asking price of £27 million which Arsene Wenger may not want to pay.

Manchester United appeared to be poised to sign the French international a couple of weeks ago until their reported bid of £20 million was rejected by Schneiderlin’s club.

Saints’ boss, Mauricio Pochettino also confirmed the bid submitted by United for the player was rejected because it was not “the bid we expected”.

Schneiderlin wants to leave Southampton to join a club who plays in the Champions League, preferably an English team. “Of course the Champions League is my goal. If I leave Southampton, it will be for a club in the Champions League”, he revealed sometimes in May.

Although United have also qualified for the Champions league, the Saints midfielder feels his playing style is more suited to the Arsenal’s style and he will only improve under Arsene Wenger.

Although Arsenal are yet to make any bid for Schneiderlin, Southampton are holding out for a fee around the £27 million mark.

Arsene Wenger will no doubt see the midfielder as overpriced and would definitely not want to fork out a sum as huge as that for a player who is not yet tested in Europe.

Unlike the £32 million signing of Chilean Copa America winner, Alexis Sanchez, who had already shown that he is capable both in domestic and European competitions with Barcelona, £27 million would be deemed too much to secure Schneiderlin’s signature.

No doubt about his quality, the 26-year old Frenchman will add guile and vision to Arsenal’s midfield as he has shown with the Saints.

Schneiderlin, ex-Strasbourg of France star, helped Southampton secure a Premier League promotion, and is always a starter in the team, bar injuries.

The presence of Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, and Jack Wilshere in the Arsenal midfield means the Gunners already have players with similar qualities to Schneiderlin’s. Hence, Wenger would see paying £27 million like a waste of money.

Nevertheless, Schneiderlin’s move to the Emirates could still be possible only if the asking price by Southampton is reduced to £20 million, at least.