Rumour: Liverpool and Arsenal chasing Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneirderlin

Morgan Schneiderlin: Southampton’s diamond in the midfield

Liverpool and Arsenal are battling it out for Southampton midfield enforcer Morgan Schneiderlin.

Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger have been sending scouts to keep tabs on the Frenchman who has been an integral member of the Southampton squad since getting promoted to the Premier League. Originally a centre-back, Schneiderlin has adapted to a central defensive-midfield position and has excelled alongside Jack Cork and Sean Davis.

Liverpool are already chasing Schneiderlin’s team-mates, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, and they are looking to lure the Frenchman along as well.

The 24-year-old will require a fee believed to be in the region of £15million, but that should not be an issue for Rodgers or Wenger’s side, with Champions League football on the horizon for both clubs.

Schneirderlin narrowly missed out on the France squad for the World Cup this summer, which means he is still eligible to represent England at some point in the future.

Schneirderlin has admitted that Champions League football is vital for him, but also respects that he has time left on his current contract at Southampton.

He revealed: “For my progress and my visibility, it would be better to play for a club who play in the Champions League.

“I know there is a lot of speculation, but I still have three years on my contract, it does not depend on me.

“We’ll see in the coming weeks.”