Atletico Madrid are trying to use defender Toby Alderweireld as bait to snare Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.
Belgian centre-back Alderweireld has just spent the season on loan at Southampton from Atletico Madrid and the Saints are keen to keep hold of him on a permanent basis.
Atletico Madrid are ready to allow the former Ajax man to remain at St. Mary's Stadium, but want to use him in a deal to sign Schneiderlin, according to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato.
Los Rojiblancos snapped up Alderweireld from Ajax in 2013 for a fee of around €7m, locking him down on a four-year contract in Spain.
Schneiderlin meanwhile is ready to quit the Saints this summer, but only for a side that can offer Champions League football.
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Atletico Madrid tick that box, having finished third in La Liga last season, but the French midfielder also has other suitors, with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal thought to be keen on securing his signature.
Schneiderlin made 30 appearances in all competitions for Southampton in the current campaign, scoring five goals.
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