Bastian Schweinsteiger targeted by Manchester United - sources

ESPN FC's Gabriele Marcotti discusses the likelihood of Bastian Schweinsteiger moving to Manchester United from Bayern Munich.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a target for Manchester United as Louis van Gaal looks to bolster his midfield, sources told ESPN FC.
Schweinsteiger, 30, is interesting United and the World Cup-winner is one of several midfielders under consideration as United aim to show their ambition in the transfer market again this summer.
Germany captain Schweinsteiger has spent the whole of his career at Bayern Munich but is out of contract in 2016 and is yet to agree a new deal, meaning he may be available for a comparatively cheap price.

Van Gaal worked with Schweinsteiger during his two-year reign at the Allianz Arena -- during which the German giants lost the Champions League final to Inter Milan in 2010 -- and the United manager remains an admirer of the midfielder.
Schweinsteiger, who has won eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League for Bayern, both scored and was sent off on his last appearance at Old Trafford, in a Champions League quarterfinal in 2014.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has struggled with injuries since winning the World Cup with Germany last summer.

His ability to operate both as an anchorman and in a more advanced role is likely to appeal to Van Gaal, who said earlier this month that he wanted to sign another player to operate in the centre of the pitch as he "only had one right-sided holding midfielder."
That was a reference to vice-captain Michael Carrick, who turns 34 in the summer and who has struggled with injuries this season.
Van Gaal's side have been dependent on Carrick in his first season at Old Trafford. The former Tottenham midfielder has started 16 league games this season, of which United have won 12, whereas they have only taken three points in eight of the other 21 fixtures.
And while the left-footed Daley Blind can also operate as the holding midfielder, United have struggled to break down opponents in Carrick's absence.
Schweinsteiger, a more penetrative passer, is one of a number of options United are considering.

They are also monitoring their former player Paul Pogba, although re-signing the Frenchman is not a priority at the moment and there are doubts over whether the Juventus midfielder, who is a target for Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain among others, would want to return to Old Trafford.
United are also aware that Ilkay Gundogan, who has said he wants to leave Borussia Dortmund, is also out of contract in 2016, although sources told ESPN FC that Juventus and Bayern are likelier buyers.
Van Gaal remains an admirer of Kevin Strootman but the Netherlands international has only made seven appearances in 14 months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury and then requiring knee surgery in January.
Strootman has not played since then, making a move for him unlikely, especially as United have discovered the perils of signing a player who has not fully recovered from a serious knee injury during Radamel Falcao's difficult loan spell at Old Trafford.
However, United received a setback in another attempt to strengthen their squad when Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said centre-back Mats Hummels had decided to stay with the 2013 Champions League finalists.
United could secure two summer signings from the Allianz Arena this summer, with sources telling ESPN FC that Bayern forward Thomas Muller has also been earmarked as a transfer target in the upcoming window.