Manchester United Transfer News: Bastian Schweinsteiger Drops Bayern Munich Hint

Bastian Schweinsteiger has hinted that he could stay at Bayern Munich this summer despite continued reports linking the German midfielder with a move to Manchester United.

As noted by David Anderson of the Daily Mirror, Schweinsteiger has been touted as a potential solution to the midfield problems at Old Trafford, but speaking with Sport1, the Germany captain revealed that he still has ambitions to fulfil as a Bayern Munich player.

“We've won the Bundesliga for three consecutive times, no team ever has managed to win it four times. That's a motivation,” said the 30-year-old, per Anderson’s piece. “I feel good and I'm ready to play the next three years at the top level. That's my goal.”

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Louis van Gaal worked with Schweinsteiger during the Dutchman’s spell at the helm of the Bavarian giants, and it’s clear the legendary coach wants to bolster United’s midfield options. The German, a familiar player who would add a plethora of qualities, seems a wise choice.

Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin is another midfielder who’s been linked with a switch to the Red Devils too, per Sky Sports. Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell took a look at which player would be a better fit for the club.

Signing Schweinsteiger would be a major coup for United. He may not be the rumbustious, aggressive force he was a couple of years ago because of a succession of injuries, but he remains one of European football’s top midfield men.

As noted by Jonathan Northcroft of the Sunday Times, he would add so much more than pure footballing ability:

Schweinsteiger has proved himself to be a serial winner. His career is littered with silverware, including a World Cup triumph with Germany last summer and the 2013 Champions League with Bayern.

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If United are to reassert themselves at the pinnacle of English and European football, his kind of talismanic influence would be crucial to their cause. But at this juncture, it seems as though he still has goals to achieve with his boyhood club, although Alex Shaw of ESPN didn’t really see the quotes as a definitive sign that he'll stay in the Bundesliga:

As Northcroft noted, it’s tough to envisage Schweinsteiger turning out for any club side other than Bayern. He has risen through the ranks to become the heartbeat of the team and is a player the club’s supporters adore. But his qualities—drive, determination and forceful midfield play—don’t really marry well with Bayern boss Pep Guardiola’s intricate passing philosophy.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

It’s probably why the German hasn’t been quite so effective at club level in the past two seasons. But in a style of play that is a little more direct and incisive, which is exactly what Van Gaal is looking to implement at United, Schweinsteiger could quickly re-emerge as a footballing force of nature.