Arsenal Transfer News: Morgan Schneiderlin Fuels Rumours, Theo Walcott Contract

Southampton star Morgan Schneiderlin has reignited debate over his future with the club following comments regarding his European intentions while Theo Walcott is confirmed to have reopened contract negotiations.

Schneiderlin has long been reported as a target for the Gunners, and Arsene Wenger may favour his side's chances of acquiring the Frenchman after he spoke to French radio station RMC (via Metro's Tom Oliver), saying:

"

Yes, I think my decision is made. The goal is to stay in England, it is a championship that I like and where I have a lot of fun. If I leave Southampton it is for a club that plays better than the Europa League.

There are ongoing discussions, but nothing is done. But of course the Champions League is my goal. If I leave Southampton it will be for a club in the Champions League.

"

Arsenal are, of course, set to feature in Europe's premier competition next term after sealing a third-place finish in England's top flight this season while the Saints were just a place short of Europe, ending in seventh.

It was only last summer that Schneiderlin was stopped from following the likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert out the St. Mary's exit, going on to feature as an even more important cog under new boss Ronald Koeman.

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However, Arsenal's desire to sign the midfield anchor may no longer be the same after Francis Coquelin returned from loan midway through the 2014-15 campaign to give Arsenal extreme hope as an engine-room solution.

Both France international Schneiderlin and Southampton team-mate Victor Wanyama finished among the top five tacklers in the Premier League, according to its official Twitter account:

It's those sort of elite statistics the Gunners will of course be interested in, and with Mikel Arteta, 33, and Mathieu Flamini, 31, edging into their twilight years, fresher legs may be required.

That being said, Goal have reported Southampton as telling Schneiderlin's suitors it will require a fee of €35 million (£25 million) to prise the player from the south-coast club:

With another season gone by at St. Mary's and the Saints still going without Champions League football, it's true the club's resolve in hanging onto their talisman may be pushed to the brink once again.

The Saints have proved difficult negotiators in the past, but the player's desire to play in the most prestigious European competition of all could come to play a key role in his future.

Wenger Confirms Walcott Contract Talks Back Underway

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Having starred in the Gunners' 4-1 thumping of West Brom to end their Premier League campaign, Walcott's contract extension appears to be the talk of the town at the Emirates.

But Wenger says the club were planning to offer the winger a new deal irrespective of his hat-trick contribution against the Baggies, with the Daily Star's Alex Harris quoting him as saying after that display:

"Without his hat-trick or with his hat-trick, we want him to stay. We are in negotiations and we have started to speak with his agent. We did that before he scored his hat-trick."

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That haul against Tony Pulis' side gave Walcott his first Premier League goals since February and showed clear evidence as to what a sensational asset he can still be on his day.

Arsenal's looming FA Cup final against Aston Villa has raised questions over which players, fit and otherwise, will feature at Wembley, but the Mirror's John Cross doesn't understand how Walcott could be overlooked:

The 26-year-old now has just a year left to run on his contract and will be free to discuss terms and even sign a pre-contract agreement as soon as next January.

Goal's Jay Jaffa highlights Walcott's versatility as perhaps being one of the most prevalent reasons as to why Arsenal may make his deal a priority at present, saying he should start before Olivier Giroud up front:

The three-goal display against West Brom certainly showed that when handed the proper opportunity, Walcott can be a prolific presence.

Injury concerns are an understandable worry for the club, with Walcott having played just 38 first-team games over the past two seasons, but it seems their desire to keep him around is stronger than those doubts.