Man Utd Line-Up Bid But Bookies Slash Odds Arsenal Will Sign £24m Star

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Man Utd are linked with Morgan Schneiderlin…

Manchester United are lining-up an offer for Morgan Schneiderlin but bookmakers have slashed odds the £24m-rated midfielder will join Arsenal this summer, according to the Independent.

Schneiderlin has just come off the back of another excellent season at Southampton where his impressive displays in the heart of midfield helped Ronald Koeman’s side maintain a top-four push for much of the campaign before eventually fading away to finish seventh.

It looks like he could finally make a move this summer in search of Champions League football as the French international was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying earlier this month that he wants to remain in England and join a top four club.

The Independent claim that Southampton have told the 25-year-old he can leave this summer as long as their valuation is met and the newspaper suggests that Arsenal and Manchester United are now lining-up £24m offers.

It looks like Schneiderlin’s future could be resolved shortly as the midfielder has been quoted in the Mirror as saying that talks with interested parties are ongoing and he expects to conclude a move over the coming days.

“Talks are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days. I hope it will all be concluded before pre-season begins next week.” Schneiderlin is quoted as saying by the Mirror

We’ll have to wait and see who ends up winning the race for Schneiderlin’s signature but if the bookmakers are anything to go by, it seems the midfielder will be heading to North London as many bookies have slashed their odds on the player joining Arsenal.

Football Trader for Betfair, Michael Bowers, confirmed they have been forced to cut the odds on Scheniderlin joining Arsenal to just 1/2 after a flurry of bets on Wednesday.

Bowers is quoted as saying in the Independent:

“Arsenal are now odds-on favourite to sign the in-demand Frenchman before September 2nd 2015. Schneiderlin has been a wanted man for several transfer windows now and it seems as though Wenger is trying to force a deal through early to fend off other suitors. After a huge rush of bets today, Arsenal have been cut from 5/1 to 1/2, the shortest odds any other club has been backed in to by far.”

Obviously the bookmakers are just covering their backs but based on the market activity, it does appear that the Emirates is the most likely destination for Schneiderlin as it currently stands.

Things can change very quickly in football but if the Gunners can win the race, then I think Scheniderlin would be an excellent signing for Arsene Wenger’s men.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Francis Coquelin was outstanding during the second half of last season but with Mikel Arteta coming to the end of his playing career and Mathieu Flamini expected to leave, Arsenal need more competition in the holding role and Schneiderlin would fit the bill nicely.

However, I’m sure United won’t give up without a fight as Louis van Gaal is also in need of another deep-lying midfielder to ease the load on Michael Carrick and Schneiderlin would also be an excellent addition at Old Trafford.