MANCHESTER United have reportedly emerged as favourites to sign Saints midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Reds are widely said to be seriously considering a move for the 25-year-old France international, as they look to strengthen the spine of their team.

Schneiderlin, who has two years left on his contract, is known to be keen on joining a club in the Champions League, and a move to Old Trafford would undoubtedly appeal to him.

As yet, though, the situation is believed to be quiet behind the scenes at St Mary’s, with Nathaniel Clyne’s departure for Liverpool the only move expected to happen soon.

Schneiderlin would likely cost in the region of £25m to purchase, but United’s spending power could comfortably extend to that.

Arsenal had appeared his most likely destination, with Arsene Wenger a long-term admirer, but the emergence of Francis Coquelin, coupled with Schneiderlin’s hefty price tag, means he may be less appealing to the Gunners than he perhaps was a few months back.

While Saints kept Schneiderlin against his initial wishes last summer, they are likely to be more agreeable to parting with him for a significant fee now, especially as the player’s value, which is still at its peak, will begin to reduce over the next 12 months, as his contract nears its final year.

They would clearly rather not lose one of the top defensive midfielders in the Premier League and arguably Saints’ best player over the course of the past three seasons, but there is a sense that the more stable situation at the club this summer compared to last would put them in a better position to cope.