It looks like the final obstacle to Arsene Wenger completing the deal that has been the subject of more Arsenal transfer rumours in the last year, has been removed. And not only are the Gunners now poised to sign the France international star Morgan Schneiderlin, but we are going to get him for the cut-price transfer fee of £15 million, according to a Metro report.
Although Southampton managed to hold on to him last summer, amid strong transfer interest from clubs including Arsenal and Tottenham, it was clear that the 25-year old was ready to make the next step up in his football career. Schneiderlin actually mentioned the Champions League and made no secret of wanting desperately to play in it.
And for much of the season it looked like Ronald Koeman might just be able to provide him with it. But a few key injuries and the turnaround in form of Man United had seen them drop out of the top four. And then Stoke City, not Arsenal’s favourite bunch, all but sealed their fate on Saturday. Schneiderlin had given the Saints the lead but Stoke turned it around and with Man City winning yesterday, they are now eight points adrift of fourth.
So they will not be able to keep their star midfielder for another year and the report says that they will also accept less than last summer’s £25 million valuation and that Wenger has agreed a transfer fee of just £15 million. How good a piece of business would that be for Arsenal?