Manchester United Transfer News: Bastian Schweinsteiger Eyed in Marseille Talk

Marseille are reportedly ready to launch a bid for Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, with the German’s position at Old Trafford hitting a new low on Monday.

According to Telefoot (h/t Rosa Doro of TuttoMercatoWeb.com) the French club want to sign the former Bayern Munich man in January after he was ruthlessly marginalised by Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho.

As Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror reported, Schweinsteiger doesn’t look to have any future at United after it was confirmed in their financial results the club have written off his value, said to be £6.7 million, as he is no longer part of the first-team picture.

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In the report, it’s noted the aforementioned sum is in reference to an “impairment charge regarding a reduction in the carrying value of a player no longer considered to be a member of the first team playing squad.” Per Richards, Schweinsteiger is training with the club’s reserve team.

It’s been a sad decline for Schweinsteiger in recent months. Although he was given a rousing reception in Germany after retiring from the international game, at United he’s been forced to the fringes by Mourinho.

Marseille would pose an intriguing destination, although Schweinsteiger has previously suggested he will not play for another European club:

However, with no move materialising before the end of the summer transfer window, that’s surely a standpoint he will reconsider when the winter market opens.

After all, Schweinsteiger is still only 32 years old and played in the semi-final of the 2016 European Championship in the summer for Germany. He may no longer be the force he once was during his time at Bayern, but with his class on the ball, tenacity in the tackle and undisputed leadership skills, there’s plenty for him to offer at the right club.

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Not at United, though. Schweinsteiger said earlier this month it’s his dream to play at Old Trafford again, per Samuel Lovett of The Independent, although United seem to have taken a clear standpoint on his status. Even with plenty of games to negotiate this season thanks to UEFA Europa League commitments, you sense there’d have to be some seismic changes to see the German in the red jersey again.

Marseille are a big club that have fallen on tough times in recent seasons, and manager Franck Passi would surely love to have someone of Schweinsteiger’s pedigree on the field—although if the veteran is available for free, as Richards reported, they’ll face a lot of stiff competition.