92% pass accuracy, two goals: No wonder Spurs interested but club desperate to keep midfielder

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Southampton midfielder and reported Tottenham Hotspur target Morgan Schneiderlin shone for the Saints on Saturday.

For much of the summer, Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was linked with a move many of his former teammates had made already – away from St Mary’s.

Having seen the likes of Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers seek pastures new, it was reported that the French international wanted to follow suit, with a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur said to be his intention.

But Southampton stood firm, and it is clear to see why following Schneiderlin’s outstanding individual display in their 3-1 win away to West Ham on Saturday.

The midfielder scored two goals, scoring from both his on-target attempts and completing an impressive 91.84% passing accuracy in the process.

When you consider his importance to the team and the final score, it is no surprise Tottenham were reportedly so keen to bring Schneiderlin to White Hart Lane. But that ship has surely sailed, and Southampton are all the better for keeping him.

It was not only in an attacking sense that the player impressed. He also did his more day-to-day duties well, winning five tackles, eight duels, one aerial duel and sending 39 of his 98 passes forward.

Southampton have experienced a lot of changes this summer, but whatever you think of their considerable sales, they were wise to keep hold of a player who – based on Saturday’s performance – will not let the fact he did not follow others away from the club stop him from performing at his best.