Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Morgan Schneiderlin and Callum Wilson Rumours

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has called on Arsenal to give their chances of Premier League glory a major boost next season by signing Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Writing in his column in the Mail on Sunday, Hoddle has encouraged the Gunners to raid the South coast club for their central-midfield star:

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Now it’s the midfield they need to improve and Morgan Schneiderlin would be a great addition. He’s a good user of the ball, as well as someone who wants to snap at people and win it back.

He enjoys intercepting and has the defensive mindset, something Arsenal midfielders often lack. I think he would be an improvement on what they have, even though Francis Coquelin has done well.

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Schneiderlin would definitely add something different to the core of this Arsenal team. Arsene Wenger has an array of intricate midfield men but a lack of underpinning fortitude in the team to allow those sorts of players to flourish further. The Frenchman would certainly give them that kind of basis to build upon.

But as noted here by Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com, the Gunners are likely to face competition for his signature should Saints choose to sell:

Schneiderlin would be a perfect fit for the Gunners, though. Not only does he boast the defensive-midfield instincts that this team is in desperate need of, but his astute utilisation of possession and ability to surge forward with the ball would see him fit seamlessly in with Arsenal’s overall modus operandi.

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After spending big in the previous two summers to land attacking stars like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Wenger must address the obvious issues at the base of his midfield. He may cost a lot, but at this juncture, there are few players in European football as ready-made as Schneiderlin to come in and make an immediate positive impact.

Gunners Eyeing Up Callum Wilson

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Arsenal are weighing up a surprise move for Bournemouth’s star centre-forward Callum Wilson, as Wenger bids to bolster his forward line for next season.

That’s according to Sean Kearns of Metro, who claimed both the Gunners and Chelsea have been keeping an eye on the 23-year-old. The interest seems to have a lot more clout over at the Emirates, though, with the report claiming Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley has watched the player on “five occasions” and has “raved” about the forward.

Here’s a glance at why Wilson may have caught the eye of some of the Premier League’s elite:

While the rise of Bournemouth this season has been a remarkable collective effort, Wilson has given them a real edge to their forward play. The Cherries netted 98 times in the Championship, 23 of which came from the former Coventry City man, who is a true illustration of a multifaceted forward.

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Also, if Wilson isn’t scoring, he still contributes. His footballing skills are fine, he boasts excellent hold-up talents and a canny foresight for getting into goalscoring positions. As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, he has razor-sharp predatory instincts inside the area:

There is still plenty for him to improve on, though. With that in mind, it’d be a major surprise for the Gunners to go for the Bournemouth man. If Arsenal are to add to their striking options this summer, it must be a player who is an upgrade on Olivier Giroud or Danny Welbeck.

From Wilson’s perspective, a move wouldn’t be ideal either. Under Eddie Howe he has flourished in a team geared towards utilising his talents; a season in the Premier League with that kind of luxury will do wonders for his development. Certainly a lot more than sitting on the bench at either the Emirates of Stamford Bridge.