Morgan Schneiderlin Arsenal Rumours Emerge, Arsene Wenger Discusses Deadline Day

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be tempted back into the transfer market on the final day of the January window, but it looks as though any bid for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin will have to wait until the summer for the Gunners.

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As noted by Rob Draper of the Mail Online, the Emirates outfit are hoping to bolster the base of their midfield with an authoritative presence, sounding out Schneiderlin and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Christoph Kramer as targets. However, Draper doesn’t expect any deals to be done until the season's end.

Nonetheless, Wenger didn’t rule out moving for a player on the final day of the window in the aftermath of his side’s magnificent 5-0 win over Aston Villa. According to the London Evening Standard, the club could potentially make another late addition:

"

I don't think I will be busy.

We have done what we wanted and, unless there is a huge surprise and somebody calls me, then why not? (But) at the moment, nothing. It's very quiet.

"

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The acquisition of Gabriel Paulista means Wenger has abated some worries about his squad’s defensive depth, but perennial issues remain when it comes to the base of this team’s midfield. For so long Arsenal have lacked a classy, influential, protective figure shielding their back four, and it’s encouraging to hear the club linked with men like Schneiderlin and Kramer.

Here’s a look at how those two players compare in league action this season:

	Schneiderlin	Kramer
Appearances (Sub)	16	15 (1)
Goals	3	2
Assists	0	0
Average Passes per Game	63.9	57.6
Average Tackles per Game	3.4	2.7
Average Interceptions per Game	2.3	2.8

Given that the German international has just signed a new long-term deal with parent club Bayer Leverkusen, Schneiderlin looks as though he may be the more attainable target. But his acquisition would by no means be a compromise on quality by for the Gunners, as Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe noted earlier in the campaign:

Nic English of Squawka mockingly compares Schneiderlin to Arsenal’s other options in this area of the field:

The Southampton man has evolved into one of the very best midfielders in the Premier League this season. His ability to dictate play from deep is something that will have certainly impressed Wenger, but it’s his diligent defensive work which means he’d be a wonderful acquisition for this Arsenal team.

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As noted by Squawka Football earlier in the season, the French international is a player who loves a tackle:

Schneiderlin’s marriage of assurance with the ball and unrelenting ferocity without it would add so much to the nexus of this Arsenal team. The fee quoted by Draper in his piece is £25 million, and while that may seem a bit pricey at first glance, the 25-year-old is a player who’s only going to get better and better as the quality around him increases.

According to Jack Wilson of the Daily Star, reports in French newspaper L'Equipe claim that the player could be available for as little for £15 million in the summer, and while that would be a steal for the Gunners, as noted by Sport Witness, that's not quite the case:

Arsenal are in glittering form at the moment and will feel that the signing of Paulista will add plenty to their cause in the second half of the campaign. But looking at the current squad, it’s difficult to shake concerns surrounding the holding midfield position, especially given that they're likely to face top-quality opponents in pursuit of FA Cup and Champions League glory.

It seems Wenger is willing to wait in order to solve the longstanding problems with this facet of the team, which may leave the club a little short in the immediate future. But if hanging fire a few months more means that’ll he’ll land Schneiderlin, he’ll reap the long-term benefits of one of European football’s fastest-improving midfield men.