Mario Mandzukic, Morgan Schneiderlin Transfer Swoop Tops Latest Arsenal Rumours

Arsenal could reportedly be tempted to make a late-winter bid for powerhouse striker Mario Mandzukic. The Gunners are also apparently increasingly confident of signing Southampton's midfield enforcer Morgan Schneiderlin next summer.

That confidence has even encouraged the club to resist the chance to sign Newcastle United destroyer Cheick Tiote.

Beginning with Mandzukic, it seems Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to take advantage of his struggles with Atletico Madrid. At least that's according to Daily Express reporter Ben Jefferson.

He suggests that Fernando Torres returning home has put Mandzukic's future in jeopardy. However, Jefferson also claims Mandzukic is on the radar of Manchester City, who are prepared to pay £26 million for the towering Croatian.

Perhaps the real question here is, why would Arsenal want Mandzukic? They certainly don't need attacking reinforcements.

After all, Wenger has players such as Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud at his disposal. It's Giroud's presence that should all but rule out any deal for Mandzukic.

Both are powerful in the air and each are excellent link players. Giroud plays with a little more finesse than the scrappy and resourceful Mandzukic, but both do essentially the same job.

The only thing that could change Wenger's mind is the latter's impressive statistics in limited action this season. Mandzukic has found the net 16 times and notched a pair of assists in 23 appearances in all competitions, per WhoScored.com.

Yet it's tough to believe those numbers will convince Wenger to spend £26 million at a position where he's already well-stocked.

He's likelier to continue his longstanding search for a midfield holding player who combines physical power and destructive tendencies, along with skill and comfort in possession.

Schneiderlin appears to be his top target. Metro.co.uk reporter Jamie Sanderson believes the Gunners will offer £15 million once this season concludes for the player Bleacher Report analyst Sam Tighe dubbed the "second-best holding midfielder in the Premier League":

Many Arsenal fans may not want Wenger to wait. But the re-emergence and rapid development of Francis Coquelin have given the Gunners boss a bit of leeway here.

Coquelin is in excellent form. He's combining tough tackling with disciplined positional sense and clever distribution.

Wenger hasn't been shy in his praise of the player he recalled from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic in mid-December because of injuries.

He offered this endorsement of the 23-year-old's value following Arsenal's excellent 2-0 away over Manchester City in the Premier League, per London Evening Standard writer James Olley: "He is a very young player. You look just at what happens on the pitch. Win the ball and make a good pass. In his position that is important."

Of course, Coquelin's current contract expires this summer. The Guardian's Dominic Fifield reports Arsenal have made an offer, but the young Frenchman is stalling, according to Mail Online writer Rob Draper.

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Schneiderlin would be a more than welcome consolation prize if Coquelin walks away. He's less a dynamic destroyer and more of a steady, smart presence at the base of midfield and in front of the back four.

Schneiderlin's game is based on interceptions and then using the ball well. He's averaged 2.3 interceptions per game, according to WhoScored.com. The same site also details Schneiderlin's 89.3 success percentage when passing the ball.

Schneiderlin is essentially a more rugged version of veteran Arsenal midfield anchor Mikel Arteta. He's certainly more of a fit for the stylish, possession-based game Wenger loves than Tiote.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The Magpies heavy hitter, who's never seen a yellow card he didn't like or soon earn, has reportedly been offered to the Gunners for £12 million, per Mail Online writer Sami Mokbel.

But apparently Wenger doesn't consider Tiote the "top talent" he covets at this key position.

Resisting a move for Mandzukic and biding time ahead of a bid for Schneiderlin makes sense for Arsenal during this window. The former isn't needed at a club with so many talented attackers vying for playing time.

As for Schneiderlin, his potential long-term value to Arsenal makes him worth the wait.