If Morgan Schneiderlin is as good as his word then Tottenham Hotspur do not need to even bother asking the price for the player in the summer.
Morgan Schneiderlin has spoken to French radio station RMC about his injury and his plans for next season and although it will not put to bed Saints fans fears he will leave, it does show that he is looking to better his career rather than just jump ship for the first supposed big club that will have him.
On Southampton’s season:
"Nobody expected us to finish where we did, but we dealt with the season well, despite a slightly limited squad. But we are very happy to finish in this position which could give us European football if Arsenal win the Cup.”
On his injury:
"The injury is better. I still have the ligament in my left knee which hurts a bit, but I can run. But to touch the ball is still difficult, I will use the holidays to recuperate. I wanted to wear this shirt, it is an honour (French shirt). It is annoying. But I will be able to recover to have a good season next year.”
On his future:
"Yes I think I have taken my decision, we all know what it is. I am not getting ahead of myself, I learnt a lot last season. The aim is to remain in England, it is a league that I like a lot and where I really enjoy myself. If I leave Southampton it will be for a club that is playing at a better level than the Europa League. I will take my time to think, there are some discussions at the moment, but nothing is done. But of course the Champions League is my aim. If I quit Southampton, it will be for the Champions League.”
On his price:
"I still have two years on my contract, if a club pays the right price it will be difficult for me, the moment I leave. The price? I have no idea, but I won’t leave for a small price. Southampton are known as a high selling club, the price will be quite high.”
On Euro 2016:
"It is true that I am having the chance to be called up regularly, so I will have to make a choice that will allow me to play in the Euros next season. I need to give myself the best opportunity.”
So there you have it from the horse's mouth and that means that there are only four possibilities for him to leave for a club in England and the reality is probably that only one of them, ie Arsenal will be interested.
But even that is not clear cut, if the press is to be believed then Arsenal have cooled their interest with the impressive form of Francis Coquelin and that could mean Arsene Wenger turning his attention away from St Mary's.
On the other hand though if Arsenal did sign Schneiderlin then Coquelin would not be happy, he was not best pleased when he was recalled from loan from Charlton where he had spent the first part of the season, he was playing regularly there and would have preferred that to sitting on Arsenal's bench week in week out.
So if Schneiderlin does go to the Emirates then perhaps Saints are in a good position to negotiate Coquelin coming in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
Whatever happens though it does look like Schneiderlin feels that a move to a Champions league club would be in his best interest and although that would be a shame, no one can say that he has not given us good service and deserves a chance to test himself at the highest level.