Cartilage Free Captain - Tottenham Hotspur chase Southampton's Morgan SchneiderlinA 100% Serious Ridiculous Tottenham Hotspur bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48355/cartilagefree-fave.png2015-07-02T14:45:02+01:00http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/rss/stream/86505102015-07-02T14:45:02+01:002015-07-02T14:45:02+01:00Southampton rejects United bid for Schneiderlin
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<figcaption>Dave Thompson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>So you're telling me there's a chance!</p> <p>Keep hope alive, Spurs fans. The Telegraph is reporting this morning that <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fteams%2Fmanchester-united%2Ftransfers%2F11712125%2FManchester-United-transfer-news-Southampton-turn-down-20m-Morgan-Schneiderlin-bid.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fcartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com%2F2015%2F7%2F2%2F8883327%2Ftottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlin-manchester-united-southampton" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Southampton have rejected a £20m bid</a> for <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> from <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United</a> as the tug-of-war for the Frenchman's services continues.</p>
<p>Schneiderlin is considered one of Mauricio Pochettino's top transfer targets in this window and for good reason: he's really stinkin' good and would be the perfect cog in Poche's midfield. Unfortunately, that's what United thinks also, and Schneiderlin is already on record as saying he'll only leave Soton for a Champions League Club.</p>
<p><a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a> values Schneiderlin at £25m and is pretty adamant about that price being the minimum that they'll take for him. So for United to have a lowball offer rejected could open the door just a tiny crack for Spurs if they are serious about landing him. Spurs have made over £17m from the sales of Paulinho, <span>Lewis Holtby</span>, and Iago Falque already this window, so it's not like Daniel Levy will have to go scrounging through his couch cushions looking for loose change. A big bid for Schneiderlin would not only show that Spurs are serious about landing him, but might – just might – help convince Morgan that he'd do quite well under his old boss at White Hart Lane.</p>
<p>This is all speculation, of course, and the odds of Spurs actually signing him seem to grow weaker with each passing day in the window. But he's perfect for Tottenham, the real missing piece in the midfield pivot. Let's all <a target="_blank" href="http://media.giphy.com/media/ToMjGpKniGqRNLGBrhu/giphy.gif">channel our inner Lloyd Christmas</a> and keep optimistic. It could happen! Keep repeating that to yourselves. No, stop crying.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/7/2/8883327/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlin-manchester-united-southamptonDustin George-Miller2015-06-24T23:23:36+01:002015-06-24T23:23:36+01:00Schneiderlin close to move, but not to Spurs?
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<figcaption>Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Spurs' target Morgan Schneiderlin went on the radio and spoke about his future.</p> <p>It should come as a shock to absolutely no one, but Spurs would love to have Southampton Midfielder <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> at White Hart Lane next season. The problem, of course, is whether being reunited with Spurs' boss <span>Mauricio Pochettino</span> is attractive enough to make him forget about the Champions League spots that other clubs can offer him, such as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>.</p>
<p>Today, Schneiderlin was invited onto radio station <i>France Blue Alsace</i> and attempted to clear the air on what the future holds for him:</p>
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<p>"The negotiations are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days....Hopefully before the resumption of [<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton's</a> pre-season] training next week."</p>
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<p>Quotes are always a good thing, especially when it comes from the player himself and not "unnamed sources" and this comes on the heels of multiple reports stating that he has struck a deal to leave Southampton.</p>
<p>The quotes today were run by numerous sites, such as <a href="http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/450081/Man-United-Arsenal-Tottenham-Southampton-Schneiderlin-Transfer-News-Rumour-Gossip-Latest">The Daily Star</a>, <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-morgan-schneiderlin-expects-future-to-be-sorted-in-the-coming-days-10343585.html">London Evening Standard</a>, and <a href="http://talksport.com/football/man-united-arsenal-and-tottenham-target-morgan-schneiderlin-complete-move-coming-days?">talkSPORT</a>.</p>
<p>Now, the real question is this: Where is he headed? If odds-makers are to be believed, it would appear that Arsenal are the front runners to land the French midfielder.</p>
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<p>If Schneiderlin is believed to be on the search for Champions League football (and there's nothing to debunk that theory), Arsenal being the front runner makes the most sense. They're in need of a proven defensive midfielder, and Schneiderlin checks all the boxes. Tottenham, of course, can only offer Europa League football, having qualified for the group stage already. While this is a very minor step above what Southampton has (Saints are in the third qualifying round in Europa), it probably isn't enough if Arsenal or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> want Schneiderlin.</p>
<p>Stay tuned on this, because if Schneiderlin's quotes are to be believed along with the reports that a deal has been struck, we may be hearing about a transfer in the coming days.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/6/24/8841387/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlin-arsenalSean Cahill2015-06-18T14:52:18+01:002015-06-18T14:52:18+01:00Spurs still hope for Schneiderlin signing
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<figcaption>Steve Bardens/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Tottenham still think they have a chance to attract <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> to White Hart Lane, even if the odds aren't that great. The Standard is reporting this morning that <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-refuse-to-give-up-on-morgan-schneiderlin-deal-as-arsenal-and-manchester-united-hesitate-over-25m-transfer-fee-10328360.html" target="_blank">Tottenham officials remain hopeful</a> that they can convince the French midfielder to come to Spurs from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> as interest from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> cools.</p>
<p>Schniederlin has stated that his preference is to only leave Southampton for a club that plays in the Champions League, which Spurs cannot offer. However, Southampton are reportedly demanding a £25m transfer fee for Schneiderlin, a high enough price that both Arsenal and United are backing off from meeting that valuation. This might create an opening for Tottenham to slip in and forge an agreement.</p>
<p>The Standard suggests that £25m is more than what Spurs want to pay, but they could throw in some combination of <span>Andros Townsend</span> and <span>Benjamin Stambouli</span> as a make-weight in a player(s)-plus-cash deal.</p>
<p>Morgan Schneiderlin is the Holy Grail of midfielders for Spurs this summer. He's worked with <span>Mauricio Pochettino</span> before, has proven himself to work excellently in Poche's high press midfield, and would instantly make Tottenham's midfield better. A Schneiderlin-Bentaleb midfield suddenly makes me love football a lot more. But let's not get our hopes up: a lot needs to happen, including Spurs actually making a bid and Schneiderlin deciding that he was just kidding about the whole Champions League thing for this to become reality.</p>
<p>But still, the club apparently has hope. I think I'll choose to have hope too.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/6/18/8803825/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlinDustin George-Miller2015-05-13T17:33:17+01:002015-05-13T17:33:17+01:00Bookies slash Schneiderlin-to-Spurs odds
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<figcaption>Christopher Lee/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Somebody out there knows something. Or thinks they do.</p> <p>Well, this is interesting. A report in the London Evening Standard today says that bookmakers have <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/odds-slashed-on-morgan-schneiderlin-to-tottenham-as-spurs-become-favourites-to-sign-southampton-star-10247178.html" target="_blank">dramatically slashed the odds</a> of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> midfielder <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> transferring to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> by the end of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">summer transfer window</a>.</p>
<p>Bookmakers Betfair today reduced the odds of Schneiderlin to Spurs from 10/1 yesterday to 6/4 today, after what they called "a flurry of bets." This is a dramatic adjustment, and represents a huge swing. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> were the leading favorites to sign Schneiderlin up until now. A Betfair spokesperson said the following:</p>
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<p>"Rumours have been circulating linking the 25 year old Frenchman to almost every big club in the Premier League and Arsenal have been leading the charge in the betting, with them accounting for 70 per cent of all of bets taken.</p>
<p>Today has seen enormous support for their North London rivals however, and we've been forced to cut Spurs from 10/1 to 6/4 favourites.</p>
<p>The biggest stumbling block for Spurs would be entering into a bidding war with a club like PSG at 6/1 or United who are 14/1, which might overinflate the price and force them to miss out on the midfielder."</p>
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<p>Are you skeptical that gambling odds represent good information about transfer dealings? You should be. I'm not a gambler myself, but I know just enough to know that even when odds are supposedly good it's not an indication that any given transfer is going to happen, especially when we're a month and a half from the transfer window even opening. You may recall that English betting companies gave Tottenham very good odds of signing <span>Christian Benteke</span> in the summer of 2013... and then he went and renewed his contract with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a>.</p>
<p>That said, when betting odds swing dramatically and quickly like this one does, it's usually an indicator that SOMETHING'S going on. A lot of people are suddenly betting a lot of money that Morgan Schneiderlin is going to end up at Tottenham Hotspur, so that indicates that there are people who believe they know something that not a lot of other people know about.</p>
<p>Schneiderlin has always professed that he wants to play Champions League football, and Spurs can't offer that right now. However, he's worked with <span>Mauricio Pochettino</span> (and reportedly got along very well with him) at Soton, and he'd be the ideal complement to <span>Nabil Bentaleb</span> in Spurs' midfield. In fact, he's top of most Spurs' fans list of midfield additions.</p>
<p>Should you get excited about this report? I wouldn't yet. We're still a good ways out from the transfer window even opening, much less closing, and Schneiderlin is still linked to a lot of big clubs in addition to Arsenal, including <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> and PSG, all of whom can offer more money to Southampton than Spurs. However, this is a very interesting development, and it's worth keeping an eye on it for the slim chance that Schneiderlin may decide to follow his heart rather than his ambition.</p>
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https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/5/13/8599603/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlin-betting-odds-slashedDustin George-Miller2015-04-29T20:50:16+01:002015-04-29T20:50:16+01:00Spurs to offer Andros or Benji for Schniderlin?
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<figcaption>David Cannon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Will Andros or Benji be heading to Southampton?</p> <p>We all know Spurs want Morgan Schneiderlin. He is Mauricio Pochettino's bae and if Morgan's parents weren't home, Mauicio would be over there faster than Gareth Bale racing down Barcelona's flank. Unfortunately, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> kept him out of our waiting arms last summer. Like most Spurs fans, I assumed he'd played himself out of our price range this year, but maybe he hasn't!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-to-offer-townsend-or-stambouli-to-southampton-in-bid-to-clinch-20m-schneiderlin-deal-10211885.html">According to the Evening Standard</a>, Spurs are planning to send some cash and either <span>Andros Townsend</span> or Benjamin Stambouli to Southampton in exchange for Schneidlerin. My first instinct is to dismiss this as simple batcountry nonsense, but I REALLY want Schneiderlin in our midfield, so let's take a closer look. Could this happen?</p>
<p>We know that Southampton was pursuing Townsend last summer so that part of it makes sense. And if they're going to lose Schneiderlin, which is going to happen one way or another, it would make sense to get another midfielder to replace him. And the pre Spurs version of Stambouli would certainly look like an attractive option. The question is, where does Schneiderlin want to play? If he wants Champions League football, we're screwed. But if <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> look elsewhere, and its hard to imagine both teams doing that, Spurs might be the most natural option. And trading players wouldn't just bring the price down, but it would also clear some dead wood off of our books. But if Arsenal wants him, they're probably going to pay more. So here's hoping that doesn't happen.</p>
<p>This probably isn't going to happen, but it's given me enough false hope to delude myself that maybe it will.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/4/29/8517165/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-morgan-schneiderlinSkipjack