Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Morgan Schneiderlin and Joel Campbell Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wisely ready to give up on a proposed £25 million deal to sign Southampton midfield enforcer Morgan Schneiderlin. He's also prepared to cash in on flatters-to-deceive forward Joel Campbell.

Wenger is rightly reluctant to pay the fee demanded for Schneiderlin, according to Mail on Sunday writer Rob Draper: "Arsenal are baulking at the £25 million Southampton are demanding for Morgan Schneiderlin and are considering alternatives, having been given confidence in their midfield strength by the rise of Francis Coquelin."

It makes sense for Wenger to take Coquelin's rapid rise into account when planning his summer recruitment policy. The 24-year-old returned from a loan spell with Championship side Charlton Athletic prior to the second half of the season and embarked on an excellent run in the first team.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

He quickly became the stable, defensive-minded midfielder the Gunners have lacked since Gilberto Silva acted as a vital barrier in front of the defence. Writing for the club's official site, Michael Cox used the young Frenchman's display against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final to emphasise the key qualities Coquelin's brought to the team:

"

It wasn’t about sudden darts forward to intercept the ball, or crunching tackles to dispossess opponents. It was about intervening in scrappy situations with an element of calmness, bringing control to the game. Every time there was a brief pause when the ball ran loose, Coquelin was on hand to get Arsenal going again.

"

Cox commended Coquelin for his mix of tenacity and assurance on the ball. Coquelin is no longer a surprise. Instead he's now an established and vital cog in the Arsenal machine.

Yet questions persist over whether he's the right holding player to safeguard the Gunners for a genuine Premier League title challenge. London Evening Standard reporter James Olley states certain club officials "believe it would be a gamble to entrust the 23-year-old with the role as they pursue Premier League and Champions League success."

Olley also noted how Schneiderlin "remains at the top of the list" of potential new recruits for the position. Yet Wenger seems to be wavering.

His indecision is unlikely to be well received by the many Arsenal fans who've decided Schneiderlin is the essential missing piece of the puzzle. In one of the more obvious expressions of hipster support akin to football's modern era, an increasing number of Gooners see no fault in the Frenchman's game.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

But while Schneiderlin is a tough tackler who's also tidy in possession, he offers little Coquelin doesn't. He can be quietly impressive in a number of games, but Schneiderlin rarely wows or dominates.

One robust midfielder who does is AS Monaco's powerhouse Geoffrey Kondogbia. The 22-year-old is a rising star who offers more drive, athletic dynamism and quality than Schneiderlin.

Kondogbia is on Arsenal's radar, with Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw) suggesting Wenger is prepared to bid £18.2 million to tempt the Ligue 1 club into a sale.

As a left-footer who eats up the ground with powerful, long strides, Kondogbia is a midfield linchpin who influences games at every level of the pitch. His ability to transition defence to attack, along with an underrated passing range and a thunderous shot, is reminiscent of Gunners legend Patrick Vieira.

Kondogbia simply offers more than both Schneiderlin and Coquelin. B/R French Football expert Jonathan Johnson believes Kondogbia is a star in the making, but he thinks Premier League experience makes Schneiderlin the safer bet:

Another intriguing Schneiderlin alternative to consider is his Southampton teammate, Victor Wanyama. The 23-year-old Kenyan bruiser is on the Gunners' radar, per Mirror writer Liam Corless.

Like Kondogbia, Wanyama offers deceptive quality driving forward. He's also an enforcer all over the pitch and not just in front of the back four.

Wanyama recently told Kenyan TV he wants a move to Arsenal, according to the MailOnline's Rajvir Rai: "It would be nice to move to Arsenal."

Wenger is right to pursue more progressive players than Schneiderlin, particularly if they're more reasonably priced.

Joel Campbell a £6 Million Target for La Liga

After failing to build on his positive performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Campbell could be headed for an early Arsenal exit. A report from MailOnline (h/t the Independent's Konstantinos Lianos) stated La Liga side Real Sociedad are offering £6 million for the 22-year-old Costa Rica international.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

This is an offer Wenger has to take. Campbell certainly boasts potential, particularly his pace and devilish left foot. Yet he still looks like he's a long way from being a finished product for a top Premier League side.

Granted, Wenger hardly gave the 22-year-old much of a learning curve last season. Campbell made just four Premier League appearances, all off the bench, for the Gunners before being loaned out to Villarreal, per WhoScored.com. But Campbell then scored just once in Spain's top flight, per Opta stats (h/t BBC Sport's Neil Johnston).

When he did get a rare start, as he did in the League Cup against Southampton, the FA Cup against Hull City and against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League, Campbell hardly impressed.

In fact, he appeared lightweight and work shy in each of those games. Now's the time to make a tidy profit on a player Wenger took a flier on back in 2011.

The Arsenal chief also needs to thin the forward ranks. Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck provide plenty of options, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Serge Gnabry have great potential in reserve.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Wenger should cash in on Campbell and fellow loanee Lukas Podolski before deciding if it's worth it to continue his project to develop Yaya Sanogo.

Earning money for flops like Podolski and Campbell would boost the coffers for more pressing needs in the Arsenal squad. Any increased resources should be put toward a more dynamic midfield man than Schneiderlin as well as a commanding goalkeeper and marquee central striker.