Arsenal have never seemed to have cooled their two-year-old interest in Morgan Schneiderlin, whom the Saints could no longer afford to keep hold of. Southampton have now decided to finally allow the unhappy midfielder to move to a Champions League team.

Despite his intent to leave Southampton for a bigger club, the French international was requested to extend his stay last summer, but Ronald Koeman could do nothing but watch as the defensive midfielder bid adieu to the club with whom he has spent seven seasons.

The former Strasbourg ironman still has two years left on his contract and that has prompted Southampton to slap a price-tag of £24million on him. With the television deal monies flowing in, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur may not find this amount exorbitant.

Despite being successful in finally offloading Abou Diaby, the Gunners still have Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta under contract while Francis Coquelin has achieved the undroppable status at Emirates Stadium.

Arrival of Morgan Schneiderlin in London could scupper the growth of Francis Coquelin, who was so pivotal that he was voted as the best Arsenal player last season only behind Alexis Sanchez.

Nonetheless, his potential transfer could prove to be beneficial to the club as Arsene Wenger would then have two top-class defensive midfielders at his disposal. The 25-year-old midfielder would also offer the tactical edge to Arsene Wenger’s men as they can deploy two holding midfielders, if the game demands.