Manchester United upbeat about concluding Morgan Schneiderlin deal

Manchester United are reportedly confident of signing Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton sooner rather than later, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The Red Devils have already had a reported £20m bid rejected by the Saints, the Telegraph reports, and the club are yet to return with an improved bid, but the report claims that the 20-time English champions have reopened talks with the club over a move for the midfielder.

Louis van Gaal has made signing a deep-lying midfielder a priority this summer, and has been linked with a host of names, but Schneiderlin's name has been the most frequently mentioned in recent weeks.

Schneiderlin has made it clear that he wants to join a club in the Champions League, and according to the Daily Mail, Arsenal were also interested in signing the midfielder. However, the emergence of Francis Coquelin and the hefty price tag demanded by the south coast club has seen Arsene Wenger switch his attention to other targets.

Ronald Koeman has revealed that the club are willing to sell the player, but only if the interested club matches the valuation of the St Mary's outfit, which is said to be around the £27m mark, according to the Guardian. The south coast club have already identified potential replacements, to fill the void that will be left by the Frenchman's departure.

"Every player has his price and we have experience as a club of selling players," Koeman said, as quoted by the Guardian.

"Last season we sold some players, and if there is interest in Morgan then OK. But it has to be at the price the club wants. He is one of the key players or our team, an international player. And I don't think is a problem for Manchester United," the former Feyenoord manager added.