Manchester United are reported to be on alert after Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal recommended the club sell Bastian Schweinsteiger. The 26-year-old has yet to agree new terms on an extended deal and even though his current deal has 18 months to run van Gaal feels that now is the time to cash in on a player who has spent his entire playing career at Bayern.
“I think that Bayern Munich is a business and if it is true that 30 million euros have been offered for him, then you cannot just ignore that kind of money,” van Gaal told German newspaper, Bild.
This is exactly the signing that Manchester United need to make. Schweinsteiger showed at the World Cup that he is a world class midfielder. He has great energy, a good box to box midfielder and also a creative link between midfield and strike force. Schweinsteiger would fit the English game perfectly, and especially Manchester United. With Darren Fletcher in the side, it would give licence for a more creative player to get forward from midfield. The German international has the talent to play in England, and Manchester United need to show their new intent in the transfer window, and sign the midfielder.
What Bastian Schweinsteiger would offer Manchester United is a perfect replacement for Paul Scholes. This is the issue that Manchester United need to deal with before he retires. Schweinstger would offer everything Scholes has. He has a very good passing range, both forward and back – and would not simply be a more polished Michael Carrick. He has great energy and has an eye for goal. He has found his way into the centre of midfield for club and country and has flourished in the position. Here is a ready made replacement for Scholes – United need to force the issue on this one.
Bayern Munich are notoriously very shrewd in the transfer market. However, in today’s market, the reported £30m price tag is by no means inflated. I would accept that before the World Cup many Manchester United fans would have been sceptical of such a price. However, he proved at the World Cup that he can lead a young squad – something that will be expect of him at Manchester United. Although he was not captain, he played with the added responsibility of holding together the young talent in the midfield. He has the skills to guide Darren Gibson and Tom Cleverly through their development, something Sir Alex Ferguson has to consider when replacing Paul Scholes.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United need to force the issue. The player is clearly looking for a way out of Bayern Munich, and if Manchester United show strong, early interest, he could be a Manchester United player as soon as the January transfer window. This is the type of signing that would signal a new intent from Manchester United. Bastian Schweinsteiger has everything that Manchester United are missing in midfield at the moment. The midfielder suits Manchester United. It is now up to Sir Alex Fergsuon and David Gill to make it happen.
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