Tottenham leading Arsenal in race for Southampton star?

The World Cup is wrapping up and the transfer machine isn't just warming up, it's going crazy. Following the extension of Hugo Lloris, Spurs are being linked to everyone but Leandro Damiao, which I'll confess is a nice change of pace. According to the Express Tottenham are now in the pole position to land Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

Only 24 years old, the French midfielder has played at Saints since 2008, making 205 appearances for the club, often serving as their captain. Coming up with Saints on their promotion, he has established himself as an outstanding holding midfielder, but his interceptions and tackles have risen dramatically since Pochettino took over. He was an essential part of the team's pressing strategy under Pochettino, winning the ball back and quickly redistributing it, and it's no shock that he would be looking to bring the Frenchman to Spurs if he's thinking about using that style here.

The article, unsurprisingly, doesn't quote a figure that we've bid but does say that we have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race. One would assume that is a result of Pochettino's being at Spurs and a credit to Schneiderlin's good taste. Still, it is the Express so who knows if this is for real or if it is just them putting 2 and 2 together and assuming that Pochettino is in for one of his former players (See Lovren, Dejan). An additional complication is that Southampton have made approximately 800 million bars of gold pressed latinum from their transfer business this summer, so they don't need to sell anyone at this point.

However, for the sake of argument, let's assume we are buying Schneiderlin. Given that Tottenham currently have approximately every midfielder who has ever played the game on their books, this probably means someone is on their way out. Given that Schneiderlin is a pressing DM who recycles possession, it is natural to think that either Sandro or Capoue is on their way out. And given Sandro's health record and the rumors linking him to Serie A being stronger than ever this offseason, this probably bodes ill for our favorite Brazilian. That said, it's just as conceivable that we could be replacing Demeble or even our favorite walking Instagram, Lewis Holtby.

Regardless if it happens or not, if this rumor is true it tells us a lot about how Pochettino is intending to play this upcoming season.