Arsenal “can expect” to stump up approximately £25 million for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, according to a report in the Express (h/t Telegraph Sport).

ESPN FC sources recently suggested the Gunners have “made contact” with Saints over the impressive midfielder. The speculated price tag of £25 million should be considered the upper end of what Schneiderlin is worth after yet another notable season in the Premier League.

The France international would bring a unique physical presence to Arsenal‘s short, scrappy midfield.

Manager Arsene Wenger needs a tall, powerful central midfielder to patrol the halfway line and allow the Gunners’ attack to swamp forward without a second thought. Schneiderlin’s ball-playing skills and ability to read the game make him an obvious candidate.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman believes there is a good chance Schneiderlin will run out at St. Mary’s next season. When asked if the player will leave, he replied: “I don’t think so,” per Sky Sports. “He has a contract with the club and nobody has made a serious bid for the player.” 

Southampton proved themselves willing to sell key individuals for the right price last summer, with Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert among those to leave. Arsenal snapped up Calum Chambers, so they at least have a recent working relationship with the club.

 

Zamparini: Arsenal Would Like to Sign Dybala

During his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League fixture with Swansea City, Wenger suggested he will only look to improve his squad if the right players become available, per Arsenal’s official Twitter feed:

The club continues to be linked with Palermo striker Paulo Dybala, reported by the Press Association (h/t Daily Mail). Maurizio Zamparini, the Sicilian club’s president, recently name-dropped Arsenal’s interest during an interview with La Repubblica (h/t George Bellshaw of Metro):

I have asked [club manager Giuseppe] Iachini not to play Dybala in these last few games. It’s possible that in the next eight to ten days we will sell the player, and I want to avoid injuries in this very delicate phase.

There is strong interest in him. In Italy there’s Juventus, Inter and Milan. Meanwhile, in Europe there’s Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, as well as Manchester City, who would like to try and get him but must sell first for Financial Fair Play.

Zamparini has long touted the 21-year-old, who has scored 13 goals in Serie A this season, per Soccerway. Palermo rarely possess a player of such worth and rightly want to squeeze as much value out of the deal as possible.

Bellshaw’s article indicates Dybala will cost £29 million, so whichever club pays up will be highlighting an almighty show of faith in the player’s ability. He is a crafty user of the ball and someone who could aid Arsenal’s offensive passing game, as seen below:

Gazzetta dello Sport recently reported Inter Milan had made a hefty offer, relayed by Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports:

As such, Wenger will need to stump up if Dybala is to become an Arsenal player next season. He is an exciting prospect, but the Gunners boss will need to decide whether he opts for experience or exciting youth when spending major funds in a bid to catch Premier League champions Chelsea.

Arsenal have plenty of young talent at their disposal, so Wenger may be inclined to strengthen his squad with a flurry of world-class, fully developed signings. Dybala is quickly becoming a lethal striker, though, and he could certainly work well alongside Olivier Giroud.

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