Arsenal Transfer News: Alvaro Morata and Morgan Schneiderlin Fees Dash Hopes

Arsene Wenger knows Alvaro Morata and Morgan Schneiderlin would improve his Arsenal squad in key positions. But the Gunners boss now also knows that improvement would come at a very heavy cost.

Arsenal have been told it will take as much as £60 million to sign striker Morata. Meanwhile, the Gunners will need to find at least £25 million to pry the soon-to-be newly minted Schneiderlin away from Southampton.

First Morata, and it seems Juventus and Real Madrid have got together and agreed to drive up the price for the 22-year-old attacker. Metro reporter Jamie Sanderson provides some details:

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Madrid have a buy-back option to re-sign him at the end of the season, but reports say they’re willing to pass on that.

It’s believed Juve and Real have agreed to let the striker join either Arsenal or Liverpool for £60million instead – and split the cash.

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Wenger is a noted fan of Morata. He even tried to sign him before the Spaniard bolted to Serie A, per Mirror writer Ben Burrows.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Wenger can certainly justify beginning a fresh search for another striker. Lukas Podolski has flopped on loan at Inter Milan, while Yaya Sanogo is doing the same with Crystal Palace.

The former is already pushing for a move to Turkey, according to his agent, per Daily Express reporter David Wright. Frankly, the sooner Arsenal get Podolski off the books the better.

But that won't solve Wenger's problem of having little alternatives to regular centre-forward Olivier Giroud. Attempts to freshen up the forward line have usually involved moving wide players such as Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott or Danny Welbeck into the middle.

Wenger needs a natural No. 9 instead. Morata certainly fits the bill, but there's just no way Wenger could or would even try to justify spending £60 million on a player who is currently more potential than established talent.

By contrast, Schneiderlin has established a fine reputation as a smart and resourceful defensive midfield player. Considering the Gunners have lacked talent in that vital position for an age, few fans would baulk at the idea of Wenger parting with £25 million to sign his countryman.

That's what it will take to pry the 25-year-old away from the Premier League's fifth-placed club. Southampton will set that fee if Schneiderlin rejects the new contract he's been offered, according to Daily Mail reporter Sami Mokbel.

Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

He states the Saints will double the player's wages to £60,000 per week. But fears of Arsenal interest turning his head will prompt Southampton's board to set a fee of at least £25 million for the player who still has two years to go before his current deal expires.

That figure could push Wenger to look elsewhere. Mirror writer John Cross has listed Bundesliga trio Lars Bender, Ilkay Gundogan and Christoph Kramer as primary targets.

Wenger might even deem the solution to be closer to home. He's recently been effusive in his praise of 23-year-old holding-midfield ace Francis Coquelin.

In particular, Wenger has emphasised Coquelin's defensive qualities, per Rob Kelly of the club's official site: "I think he analysed well what he is good at, defending in midfield. He was in between the playmaking position and being a box-to-box player, but he is not that - he's a sitting player who can win the ball."

Ex-Gunners defensive stalwart, turned pundit, Martin Keown believes Coquelin has played so well as an anchor, Arsenal don't need to sign a defensive midfielder. Keown gave his view on a MOTD 2 broadcast, before going into greater detail for BBC Sport.

B/R' James McNicholas recently identified Coquelin as a key figure in his ideal starting 11:

Given the fee Schneiderlin is set to command, along with how well Coquelin's played, don't be surprised if Wenger sticks with his in-house option at the base of midfield.

It will probably be a similar story up front. Giroud is more likely to become the most efficient finisher in world football before Wenger spends £60 million on Morata.

In fact, it's safe to stay sceptical about both of these transfer rumours.