Morgan Schneiderlin has famously said that he wants to play in the Champions League, so why are Tottenham Hotspur bothering to put in a bid ?

This site always suspected that Mauricio Pochettino was a bit of a fantasist, but his reported interest in Morgan Schneiderlin is very interesting for several reasons.

Firstly there is the fact that Schneiderlin has stated that he wants to go to a club in the Champions League and last time I looked they don't seem to be in it, indeed they have rarely managed to actually qualify for it even before the emergence as Manchester City as a top four side, so they are as far away from breaking into it as they have ever been.

Secondly there is the small matter of Saints wanting around £25 million for the Frenchman and with Daniel Levy rating that there is only around £15 million for transfers this summer, Pochettino is way short of that figure so he other as to beat Saints down or sell Harry Kane pretty quickly.

Although perhaps Pochettino's only straw to clutch at is that he could offer Andros Townsend as part of the deal.

But with Arsenal seemingly backing out of signing Schneiderlin, as they have done every single summer since he arrived at St Mary's as they have been linked every year, Schneiderlin's options of staying in England are getting limited if he wants to also play in the Champions League, in fact they might stand at just one, Manchester United.

So why would Schneiderlin be so keen to stay in the Premier rather than go to a club on the continent in the Champions League ? the answer is simple money !

So should Spurs turn out to be the only option on the table for Schneiderlin then it will be a test of his integrity, the issue for him is that Saints want a reasonable fee and with two years left on his contract they are under no pressure to sell.

If that is the case and it is the fee that is putting off potential suitors then perhaps Schneiderlin has to consider staying put at St Mary's for another year, it won't be that hard to do with a potential Europa League campaign and his fee will drop next summer with only a year on his current deal remaining, he will still be young enough to have a good six years at the top of is game with a top notch club

So we could soon see Morgan Schneiderlin's true motivation, is it the Champions League or s it a club that will pay him more than Saints, the next few weeks will perhaps tell us the answer to that.

Photo: Action Images

SprinklingOfSpurs added 03:29 - Jun 18 Always had a real soft spot for the Saints, especially after the season they have had given last summers transfers. However here are a couple of points that don't make sense regarding Spurs. 1) $15m transfer kitty? I think not. Firstly I'd be surprised if we don't spend well over 30m (excl. transfers revenue in). Huge amount of TV money and 5th place winnings. Also, no way Daniel Levy would 'actually' tell anyone what the transfer kitty is, including me, you or even Poche? 2) Spurs are a lot closer to the top four than we have been for a 25 years or so. We have consistently pushed for a top four spot in the last 6 or so years. Since 09/10 season we have qualified 4th twice and 5th three times? Not bad for a team 'far away from breaking into 4th as ever'? 3) Two years left on his contract applies a huge amount of pressure for Saints to sell, unless your club wants to sell him for 15m at Christmas, or 10m next summer. Last chance salon to get what he's 'worth'. Reckon that's a fair amount of pressure if you ask me! 4) Champions league will be his first choice, of course wouldn't you? Generally with Champions league comes wages, so they really are hand in hand. The reality is if Spurs really want him (debatable AND maybe have the stomach for a bidding war with L'Arse, which we very well may lose) they could easily afford him. After all Levy would of course sell you a huge buy out clause (then swap you back it for some magic (Aldi brand) beans, next season!) - sorry couldn't resist :) Hope you guys have a great season, but we have one better! :)

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bstokesaint added 06:41 - Jun 18 Some valid points right there regarding Spurs, but maybe too much elaboration given what Morgan has told the media. At the end of the day he wants CL football now and Spurs, like Saints can't offer that next season. It would be a big risk to assume that if he left he got it the season after that too. In all honesty I'm not sure Pochettino has what it takes to make a CL wannabe a reality. Tactically he has no plan B and it's hard to deny he lucked out in a lot of games last season. He struggles to change games when he needs to and doesn't like diverting from plan A. All things considered Morgan you would suspect is hanging on to a safer guaranteed option. I, like many Saints' fans respect that he has earned this chance at one of the top 4.

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SanMarco added 11:57 - Jun 18 Hi Sprinkling Although a lifelong Saints fan I live in Tottenham - so know a bit about them. My feeling is that the emergence of Man City has for the moment created a fairly solid 'big 4'. Saints are in reality trying to break into the next 'big but not as big as the big 4' group which has Spurs, Liverpool and perhaps Everton in it. In that sense a Saints-Spurs move or a Saints-Liverpool move is only really an upward move in terms of pay (no small matter of course) and maybe getting to an occasional League Cup final. I talk to a lot of Spurs fans and I don't sense that most feel that they are real 'big four' challengers at the moment. The big thing will be the ground expansion - if that works out then perhaps you will have a chance but that is not certain in my view and anyway Morgan will be into his 30s by then.

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thegeneral added 15:23 - Jun 18 MS is a great football player and does deserve a shot at champions league football whilst he's at the top of his game. At the moment departure for a CL club would see him leave St Mary's with a big thanks and a good luck. It would leave a very different taste in the mouth if he went to Spuds or similar. We shouldn't be selling to our closest rivals anyway. It would be a massive feel good boost for the club and everyone associated with it if he said he wants to stay and help us achieve greater things, he could become a legend in an age when few are made with their mercenary approach to the game.

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corkcitysaint added 19:47 - Jun 18 I agree with thegenerals comments above. Should MS move to a CL club I'd wish him well and say thanks for years. Should he not stay true to his comments about only moving to a CL club then for me he would fall through the trap door into the traitors lair where Lovren and Lallana sit!
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BoondockSaint added 19:52 - Jun 18 If Loris leaves to replace DeGea as expected, that alone will knock Spuds down one or two spots on the table.
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SprinklingOfSpurs added 23:44 - Jun 18 I agree with all the assessments regarding Spurs and the top four. There is a significant gap between them and us, but doesn't mean we are not the nearest and dearest of the rest, based on last 6 or so years. IF L'Arse and ManUre don't have the appetite then Spurs would be a logical next choice (maybe Liverpool of they enter mix) for MS. London after all has it's attractions Re: bstokesaint. I agree with your assessment of Poche, no real Plan B.. Although the last thing I want as a Spurs fan is more change. Far too many managers (which Levy has to be held responsible for), far too much 'rebuilding'. I like Levy as a business man, but as a 'Football Chairman' he is seriously lacking in some areas. Anyway 'if' the rumours are believed, Nike might buying a stake in us, so maybe (JUST MAYBE) we may finally be able to compete, once the new ground is complete..

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SaintBrock added 12:32 - Jun 19 I doubt Nike will bite in on any one club, it would be disastrous as a marking policy as all other club users of their kit would switch immediately to Adidas or other competitor. Nobody believes rumours and you should not do so through wishful thinking. Frankly Morgan is far too good for Spurs and us these days and like so many here we thank him for all his loyal service through the lean years but wish him well and all success for France and Barcelona.

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