Manchester United Transfer News: Fresh Bastian Schweinsteiger Talk, Top Rumours

Bastian Schweinsteiger has reportedly been getting himself in shape ahead of an "almost certain" January departure from Manchester United.

According to the Sun's Daniel Cutts, the 32-year-old German midfielder has been doing extra training sessions at United's Carrington base in preparation for a January move to either Major League Soccer or back to Germany.

Per Cutts, a Sun source said:

"

We have been very impressed with him. He has managed to get himself much fitter over the last month.

He has got his head down and really pushed himself and is visibly lighter after getting over his injuries from last season.

The support staff and some of his team-mates are pleased for him. He hasn’t moaned once and is coming in and worked hard in the gym.

He is obviously fulfilling his contractual obligations but he appears happy and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he has something lined up in January.

"

Schweinsteiger moved to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich in 2015 but endured an injury-hit debut season, managing only 13 Premier League starts in 2015-16 under former manager Louis van Gaal, per WhoScored.com.

He has since been frozen out of the squad by new boss Jose Mourinho, and after training with United's under-23 side, he is now working on his own in a situation comparable to that of Victor Valdes' last season, per Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News. 

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Per Cutts, while Schweinsteiger remains eligible to play for the Red Devils, there is no desire at United to risk him getting injured, as that could scupper a potential deal that would see him depart in January.

Under Van Gaal, when possession was at a premium for United, Schweinsteiger fit well into the system and outdid all his team-mates in terms of passes per game, per WhoScored.com:

But Mourinho's style of play is quite different from his Dutch predecessor's, and he has clearly decided that there is no place for the German midfielder in his side.

Schweinsteiger still has plenty to offer, though, and will surely be pursued by a number of clubs when the January transfer window opens.

MLS side New York Red Bulls have been previously touted as potential suitors, but the club's head of global soccer, Oliver Mintzlaff, recently dismissed the link, per Bild (via ESPN FC).

"Schweinsteiger is a great player who has had an amazing career," he said. "But there are no talks [over a move to New York Red Bulls]. He is not an issue for us, and he will not become an issue."

The United States could still certainly be an option, though, with MLS commissioner Don Garber having told German magazine Kicker he would be welcomed "with open arms," via ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld.

Given Schweinsteiger's storied career and his continuing quality, training on his own at United seems a waste of talent, and a departure from Old Trafford in January would likely benefit all involved.