Rumour: Arsenal ponder £30m swoop for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Dejan Lovren

Arsenal are preparing a combined £30 million bid for Southampton pair Morgan Schneiderlin and Liverpool target Dejan Lovren, according to Goal.

Gunners chief Arsene Wenger is yet to complete any significant business this summer but is set to send a signal of intent to his Premier League rivals by attempting to prise to of the division’s most coveted players away from St. Mary’s.

However, they face stiff competition to secure the Croatian defender Lovren’s signature following interest from Liverpool, but are believed to be ready to discuss the option of adding his French team mate to the deal, with Wenger still in the market for a midfielder to anchor the centre of his team.

Both players have indicated that they intend to leave the South Coast club this summer, but new manager Ronald Koeman is adamant that he will not allow any more of his prise assets depart following the sale of Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana.

But with the lure of Champions League football set to be a significant factor, the proposed £30 million bid could be enough to secure a double swoop for the Emirates outfit.

But, with a possible move for Alexis Sanches also rumoured to be in the offing, Wenger has decided not the sanction the bid for the Southampton pair until he receives clarification over the Chilean’s future, as the Barcelona forward remains his priority.Lovren completed 93% of his passes at the World Cup.