Spurs boss can be pivotal in beating Arsenal to sign midfielder

Southampton players are selling like hotcakes this summer and if north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal get their way, holding midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin could yet join the St Mary’s exodus.

According to the Guardian newspaper, though, Saints are thought to value Schneiderlin in excess of the £27m paid for Luke Shaw by Manchester United as new manager Ronald Koeman sees the Frenchman as the lynchpin of his side going forward.

With reports also suggesting teenage right-back Calum Chambers will soon be announced as an Arsenal player, Saints’ squad is in danger of being decimated, following Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren’s Liverpool switches.

Much will depend on the desires of the player himself, who is yet to sit down with Koeman after an extended post-World Cup break.

However, a key factor could be the man in the White Hart Lane hotseat.

Just last week the French international had publically praised Tottenham boss Maurico Pochettino for being the man that really got him and his teammates playing attractive football.

Tottenham’s new gaffer isn’t thought to rate Sandro or Etienne Capoue anywhere as highly as his former charge and is very keen on making a bid for Schnederlin.

Schneiderlin proved to be one of the most adept holding midfielders in the Premier league last season, where his stats for tackling, interceptions and pass completion were among the very best.

His performances in the Premier League were enough to get him selected as a standby for France at the World Cup, though he was promoted to the full squad thanks to injuries and acquitted himself strongly when called upon.

As a result, the 24-year-old is now firmly on the wish-lists of north London’s big two, though Southampton are not willing to let him leave lightly.

Spurs, who finished sixth last season, are currently 7/2 to break into the top four again in 2014/15.

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