Manchester United Should Target Morgan Schneiderlin over Bastian Schweinsteiger
An image has circulated around social media recently, satirising Manchester United’s summer transfer window strategy. It shows the Old Trafford club’s predicted lineup were every player linked with them to end up there next season. Forty-eight players in total are included—15 defenders, 14 midfielders, 14 attackers and five goalkeepers. Admittedly, such a lineup would be rather hard to beat.
It illustrates just how many players Man Utd are linked with every transfer window, with fresh rumours generated pretty much every day. Yet some speculation persists, and this summer two players have been linked with Louis Van Gaal’s side more than most.
With United in need of midfield reinforcements, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have—by all accounts—been identified as two possible options. It could well be the case that the Old Trafford club are targeting moves for both, but if they have to choose between the two they should opt for the latter.
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman confirmed that a bid had been made by Man Utd for Schneiderlin, although that offer was deemed to be some way short of the club’s valuation of the player. United are expected to return for the French midfielder before the start of the new season, with Koeman keen on a quick resolution.
"Everybody knows the situation. I understand the player—if he can get a good move to a big one I can understand it,” Koeman said on Monday, as per Sky Sports. "But I hope that if there is any business it will be soon, because it's best for the player and best for us. We have to prepare for what we'll do if we sell the player.
"I had a lot of meetings with Morgan—everybody knows his situation, but it's important for the player to do a good pre-season and we'll see what happens in the next few days."
Schneiderlin has long been tipped for a move to the upper echelons of the Premier League, with Spurs failing in their efforts to sign him last summer. The Frenchman even missed Southampton’s 2014 pre-season tour after telling the club he was “not mentally or physically ready” to play after the rejection of a bid, per BBC Sport.
This time around United are the ones doing the chasing, with Arsenal also longtime admirers of the 25-year-old. And indeed, Schneiderlin is perfectly suited to the Old Trafford club. He is the kind of player they have spent the past few years searching for in vain.
Schweinsteiger would also tick off a lot of boxes for Man Utd. Unlike Schneiderlin, the German has scaled the very top of the game, winning everything there is to win. He would bring a certain degree of prestige to a side that is somewhat lacking it at the moment.
However, the 30-year-old now finds himself on the peripheries of Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola’s plans for the coming season, with the Spaniard admitting that the midfielder can leave the club. “If Schweinsteiger wants to stay here then that’s perfect. He’s a top player,” Guardiola said earlier this month, as per Guardian. “Of course, I am planning to work with Bastian next season. Bastian has to decide. He must decide what he does alone. I told him, the future depends on you.“
Of course, Schweinsteiger knows Van Gaal having worked with the Dutchman during his time as manager of Bayern Munich. In fact, the Man Utd boss is credited with moving the German midfielder into a more central position—with Schweinsteiger seen as a right-winger before Van Gaal’s arrival at the Allianz Arena. That relationship could benefit United and their dressing room chemistry.
But regardless, Schneirderlin is the better option. United found to their detriment last season that without Michael Carrick their midfield lacks balance and structure. Carrick cannot claim to be as technically-adept as someone like Ander Herrera, or as physically imposing as Marouane Fellaini, but he is the kingpin of Man Utd’s central unit.
Van Gaal was so concerned by the fragility of his side without Carrick that he even used Wayne Rooney as the anchor at the base of his midfield, in something of a failed experiment of necessity.
And so by targeting Schneiderlin, Van Gaal has apparently recognised the desperate need to find a deputy—or maybe even a replacement—for Carrick. Although the Frenchman will give United an additional dimension that not even Carrick can provide.
In essence, Schneiderlin is a more aggressive adaptation of Carrick. He will provide a protective barrier in front of United’s notoriously shaky back four, something Van Gaal found his team to be in need of last season. The Frenchman is positionally sound, defensively resilient and comfortable on the ball.
What’s more, the 25-year-old is a proven Premier League performer. Schneiderlin has handled every step up in standard that has been asked of him, rising through the divisions to become one of Southampton’s brightest talents in the top flight. There’s no reason to doubt he would cope with yet another progression at United.
Some might argue that Schweinsteiger possesses the qualities and character traits to succeed in the Premier League, but with his 31st birthday approaching in August the German is something of a fading star. United and Van Gaal might get a season or two from Schweinsteiger, but his signing would not be a long-term investment.
Whether United should sign neither, either or both players is a discussion far more nuanced than a direct comparison between the two, but the Old Trafford club must be smarter with their transfer market moves than they were last summer. Schneiderlin would make an impressive signing no matter what, while an assessment of Schweinsteiger’s potential arrival would depend on the price tag.
Man Utd could ultimately sign both players given how short-handed they are in the centre of midfield. However, were that to happen, Schweinsteiger would merely be a calculated gamble. The real coup would be in signing Schneiderlin.
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