According to reports on Sky Sports, Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was sent away from training on Saturday in an incident that has surely thrown his future with the Toffees into doubt.
Sky Sports says that both he and teammate Kevin Mirallas were banished from training due to a lack of effort, which came just two days after the 27-year-old was sent off in his side’s 3-0 defeat to Lyon in the Europa League.
That was his second dismissal of the campaign following a red card against Manchester City in August, and the Frenchman’s performances haven’t reached the levels they did at times for the Merseyside outfit last season following his move from Manchester United in January.
Meanwhile, Tottenham continue to fly high in the Premier League and the Champions League this term after successive wins at Wembley against Real Madrid and Crystal Palace, but manager Mauricio Pochettino could still be looking to add to his squad during the January transfer window.
Here are three reasons Spurs should sign out of favour Everton star Schneiderlin in the New Year…
Midfield competition
While both Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko have stepped up in the absence of Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele because of injury this season, you get the feeling that Tottenham are perhaps lacking a bit of competition and cover in the middle of the park.
Things may not have gone for Schneiderlin at Manchester United or this season at Everton, but he can be calm in possession and is able to pick a wide range of different passes, while he is also effective at regaining the ball for his team and that could be a useful trait for Spurs as they look to challenge in the Premier League and Champions League this term.
Pochettino worked with him at Southampton
Pochettino was Southampton manager for less than 18 months, but he certainly made a huge impact on a number of players during his time with St Mary’s, including Schneiderlin, and he knows the 27-year-old’s strengths.
The Argentine took over in January 2013 and at the end of that season his French midfielder had established himself as one of the best in his position in the Premier League, with the most tackles, interceptions and ground covered in the top flight.
Schneiderlin then scored two goals in 33 top flight games and was influential in helping Saints secure an impressive eighth-place finish in Pochettino’s final season in charge.
The strong relationship between the two could see the midfielder rediscover his best form if he joined the north London outfit.
Partnership with Wanyama
Southampton ended the 2014/15 campaign with the second best defensive record in the Premier League after conceding just 33 goals in their 38 top flight matches, and much of that was down to the partnership between Schneiderlin and Wanyama in the middle of the park.
The duo proved to be a brilliant barrier in front of the Saints back four and their different strengths combined often stopped their opponents from scoring.
Considering how well Wanyama has done with Spurs, it would certainly be tempting to reunite the two to see if they could better the form they showed for Southampton previously, with Schneiderlin also proving he can be a goal threat with four goals during that 2014/15 campaign.
Do you agree, Spurs fans? Let us know below.
