Arsenal Transfer News: Ray Parlour Talks Up Morgan Schneiderlin Rumours

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has backed Arsenal to make good on their interest in Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin this winter, identifying the Frenchman as the club's priority target.

Speaking on talkSPORT's Weekend Sports Breakfast, Parlour spoke of his own experience in watching the Saints anchor, saying that he would suit the Gunners' needs perfectly at present:

"

Morgan Schneiderlin - I’d definitely sign him. I watched him against Chelsea and he was fantastic just in front of the back four. He always wanted the ball and was always available but he also got stuck in and won the ball back in vital situations when Chelsea were attacking.

He would be perfect for my old team Arsenal, absolutely, whether you can get him or not [I don’t know] because Southampton are in a very good position at the moment, they don’t want to let any of their players go at least until the end of the season.

"

Schneiderlin boasts a skill set that Arsene Wenger has been yearning after for some time, with Mikel Arteta the closest thing he currently possesses in terms of playing similarity.

But Arteta was moulded into that role following his switch to the Emirates Stadium. With him, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey sidelined for varying periods this season, the north Londoners have looked light in their engine room.

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Southampton defeated Arsenal 2-0 on New Year's Day, a fixture in which Frances Coquelin and Calum Chambers were fielded as a makeshift central midfield partnership by Wenger.

Schneiderlin made his own return from injury to score in a 1-1 FA Cup draw against Ipswich Town on Sunday, with Squawka depicting his passing strengths this season and throughout 2014:

Parlour is right in stating that it would be difficult to lure the midfield general from St. Mary's. The club reluctantly allowed stars Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Dejan Lovren to leave last summer, and with the club currently fourth in the Premier League, prospects are higher than ever.

However, Schneiderlin has hinted at a departure from the south-coast club when speaking to French television channel Telefoot recently, per Bleacher Report's James McNicholas:

Ronald Koeman won't be keen on the idea of letting such a valuable piece in his jigsaw depart, but should the player wish to leave and Arsenal offer the necessary sums, it's difficult to deem the move impossible.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe recently dissected the player's January prospects, examining how much Schneiderlin is truly worth and his chances of a winter move:

Schneiderlin has the added advantage of being available to Arsenal in the Champions League, which would give Wenger extra value in determining whether or not it's worth cutting a deal.

Parlour played alongside some of the Gunners' best-ever midfield assets during his time at the club, and the Arsenal alumnus tips Schneiderlin as the ideal man to seal up a void in the team's midfield.