Morgan Schneiderlin Comments on Summer Transfer Saga, Future at Southampton

Morgan Schneiderlin revealed the relationship between him and current club Southampton reached a serious low point during the summer, but he acknowledged that he's happy he stayed with Southampton for the 2014-15 season.   

As reported by ESPN.co.uk, the French international told France Football (courtesy of Sky Sports) he had an interest in leaving and that he went into a meeting in July only to find out the club turned back on their promise of selling him "for the right price":

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Chambers signed for Arsenal the day before our meeting and the club saw the fans getting mad. They thought: 'If Morgan leaves the stadium will be burnt.' So they told us: 'Morgan is not for sale, we won't listen to anything. That is the decision and there is nothing more to say.

It was a real shock to me. Of course I was angry. I thought: 'I just played in the World Cup after two good seasons in the Premier League. I never say anything, but I can't stay in a team that plays for survival. I need to reach a new level.' So I told them: 'You don't respect me and you don't respect your words, you treat me like cattle.' They defended their interests and I defended mine.

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The 24-year-old always looked likely to leave during the summer, but during a match against Liverpool, the fans changed his mind:

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I played against Liverpool at Anfield and all the Southampton fans applauded me and chanted my name. It was so heart-warming. I knew then I would spend the whole season at Southampton.

Maybe now we will achieve something amazing here. Champions League qualification would be fantastic. I hope to play in the Champions League one day, of course. I want to play every three days. But why not play in the Champions League with Southampton?

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Schneiderlin has been a key cog in Ronald Koeman's Saints team that has stunned the Premier League early in the 2014-15 campaign. Despite a plethora of players leaving for bigger clubs, Southampton currently sit third in the standings.

The midfielder already has three goals in seven matches, per WhoScored.com, and with the likes of Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle playing in front of him, Southampton look every bit as talented as they did last year.

Schneiderlin's excellent form and development reportedly caught the eye of several clubs last year, including Tottenham, as the player himself admitted to France Football. Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe believes Arsenal should get involved as well:

While the Frenchman insists he's happy he stayed with Southampton, he refused to make any sort of long-term commitment to the club. His desire to play in the Champions League is clear, and while Saints may have had an excellent start to the season, they're still an unlikely candidate for European qualification.

Clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham have clear needs at the holding midfielder position, and due to his status as a young yet experienced contributor on the Premier League level, Schneiderlin presents the perfect transfer target.

Top clubs will return with offers in the summer, if not the January window, and it will once again be difficult for Southampton to say no if the price is right.

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