Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin: I want to play in Champions League

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/25/morgan-schneiderlin-southampton-champions-league

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The Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has admitted he wants to join a club playing in the Champions League next season, with Arsenal thought to be frontrunners to sign him.

The 25-year-old Frenchman has enjoyed another successful season having remained at St Mary’s last summer despite interest from both Arsène Wenger’s side and Tottenham. However, with only two years left on his contract, Schneiderlin has acknowledged that his days on the south coast could now be numbered.

“Yes, I think my decision is made,” he told the French radio station RMC.

“I learned a lot last season. The goal is to stay in England. It is a championship that I like and where I have a lot of fun. If I leave Southampton, it is for a club that plays better than the Europa League.

“There are ongoing discussions but nothing is done. But of course the Champions League is my goal. If I leave Southampton it will be for a club in the Champions League.

“I have a two-year contract. If a club pays the right amount for me, it will be time to leave.

“The amount? I have no idea but I will not leave for a small price. Southampton is known to be a good seller club, the price should be high enough.”

Southampton are thought to want at least £25m for a player they signed from Strasbourg in 2008 but are unlikely to let him leave without a fight. Schneiderlin missed their final-day defeat to Manchester City with a knee ligament injury and he admitted that he was frustrated not to play his part.

“My injury is getting better. I still have the left knee ligament that suffers a bit, but I can run,” he said.

“I’ll enjoy the holiday to recover. I wanted to wear this jersey again, it’s an honour. So it’s annoying. But then I’ll be able to recover and have a good season next year.”

Meanwhile, on-loan defender Toby Alderweireld hopes his future can be resolved quickly. The Belgian has enjoyed a successful loan at St Mary’s from Atlético Madrid.

Southampton do have an option to buy for around £6.8m but it understood Atletico could revoke that by making a payment.

If that occurred the Spanish club could either keep him or sell elsewhere, and both Manchester City and Tottenham have been linked with the 26-year-old.

Alderweireld admits he does not know what lies ahead but, after moving from Ajax to Atlético in 2013 and then to Saints last year, wants it sorted out soon.

He said: “I hope to know where my future is before pre-season starts because it’s two years in a row that I have done a pre-season with a club and then on 31 August I have left.

“So I hope this time I can do a pre-season with the club that I will be playing with and have a good year.

“The situation is frustrating and I don’t know what will happen. I would like to make a decision but the club has to decide first.

“There are three options - stay with Atlético, stay with Southampton or go to another club. So we will see what happens.

“It’s not up to me so I can’t say a lot about it but I hope the decision is quickly made.”

Alderweireld feels he settled in well at Southampton and enjoyed playing in Ronald Koeman’s impressive team.

Saints, despite being written off at the start of the campaign after losing several star names, finished seventh and could yet qualify for the Europa League.

Alderweireld said: “I really enjoyed the Premier League. I’ve had a fantastic year at Southampton and I want to thank the fans and the club for giving me the opportunity.

“The diversity is nice, the tempo, the atmosphere at games and the language is better for me than in Spain.

“I’ve had a fantastic year, I can’t lie about that, so yes I’d like to stay in the Premier League.

“I really want to go to a club that really wants me. Southampton gave me that opportunity and it paid off, I think.”