Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.
Pundit Shaka Hislop has told ESPN that he thinks Manchester United would be ‘all too happy’ to sell midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin – and backed a possible move to Everton.
Schneiderlin, 27, was a big-money signing for United in the summer of 2015, as they splashed out £25m to sign him from Southampton (BBC Sport).
The Frenchman had established himself as one of the Premier League’s top central midfielders during his time at Southampton, but found first-team football much harder to come by at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s Morgan Schneiderlin talks to Wayne Rooney
Schneiderlin was in and out of Louis van Gaal’s side last season, but has become an outcast under Jose Mourinho this season, playing just 11 minutes of Premier League action across three substitute appearances.
Now, Schneiderlin is widely expected to leave Old Trafford during the upcoming January transfer window, with two teams seemingly leading the race for his signature.
Sky Sports reported on Friday that West Bromwich Albion have offered a fee of £18million to sign Schneiderlin, whilst Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Everton have offered £40million to sign both Schneiderlin and United team-mate Memphis Depay in a package deal.
Manchester United’s Morgan Schneiderlin
West Brom boss Tony Pulis should have money to spend in January and may look for a younger alternative to Claudio Yacob and Darren Fletcher, whilst Everton boss Ronald Koeman managed Schneiderlin at Southampton, and appears to be keen on a reunion.
Now, pundit Shaka Hislop has told ESPN that he thinks United would happily let Schneiderlin leave next month, and backed a move to Everton due to his relationship with Koeman and the Toffees’ defensive frailties.
“He played for Koeman at Southampton, and when you look at Everton and how poor they’ve been at the back, they have no real presence defensively in midfield,” said Hislop. “I think this one could be a hit, and I’m sure Manchester United would be all too happy to get him off the books,” he added.
Everton’s defensive issues aren’t just down to their midfield, as Idrissa Gueye has been all-action in front of the back four, but Schneiderlin would give Koeman some extra protection for his back line.
Factor in that Gueye is heading to the Africa Cup of Nations and Gareth Barry is almost 36, and a move to sign a proven Premier League midfielder like Schneiderlin certainly makes sense for his former Southampton boss Koeman.
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