Wenger Dealt Huge Blow As Key Target Ready To Snub Arsenal For Tottenham

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Morgan Schneiderlin wants to join Tottenham over Arsenal.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been dealt a fresh transfer blow with reports today claiming that Morgan Schneiderlin would prefer to join rivals Tottenham this summer, according to reports today.

Wenger is on the look-out for a defensive midfielder to replace 32-year-old Mikel Arteta this coming season and he’s been strongly linked with a number of players in recent months.

The Gunners were believed to have been in advanced talks with Real Madrid over Sami Khedira but a potential £24m deal hit a stumbling block last week over the German World Cup winners excessive wage demands.

This forced Wenger to look at alternatives and although he’s been linked with the likes of Lars Bender and William Carvalho,  the Daily Mail have claimed that the Frenchman has opened talks with Southampton over a £16m deal after making Schneiderlin his number one target.

However, Arsenal could be set for more disappointment as the newspaper goes on to report that the 24-year-old would in fact prefer a switch to north London rivals Tottenham so he can link-up with former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Schneiderlin was hugely impressive under Pochettino last season and the Mail states that the player credits the Argentinean for his vast development over the last 12 months, and is keen to continue working with him at White Hart Lane.

Obviously this would come as a big blow to Arsenal if this report is true, but it would be surprising if Schneiderlin did turn his back on Champions League football after hinting just last month that he wanted to test himself at the highest level.

When first linked with a move to the Emirates in June, Schneiderlin did little to play down the speculation, telling reporters:

“I’ve been there [Southampton] for a long time now,”

“We’ll see how things go, but the directors know my position and what my intentions are.

“Everyone has ambitions, everyone has his own future in his hands, so we’ll see. Every player wants to play on big occasions.” Schneiderlin is quoted as saying by Goal

It would certainly be a commendable decision should Schneiderlin turn down Champions League football in order to work with his former boss at Spurs, but I’m sure Arsene Wenger won’t give up without a fight as he looks to bring in a defensive foil for the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Spurs transfer news

Schneiderlin joined Southampton from Strasbourg in 2008 and after a steady start to his career st St Mary’s, he’s really excellent since the club returned to the top flight two years ago. He has some of the best interception and tackling stats in the division, so would be an excellent purchase for either Arsenal or Tottenham, but it remains to be seen whether the Saints will be willing to let another key player leave after seeing several of their first team jump ship this summer.