Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Pepe, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus are reportedly keeping an eye on Pepe's situation at Real Madrid, as the veteran defender is yet to sign a new contract with Los Blancos. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is said to have banned Bastian Schweinsteiger from playing for United's under-23 team.

According to Calciomercato (h/t Daily Mirror's Aaron Flanagan), Pepe will be a free agent at the end of this season, and he and Real have yet to come to an agreement on a new deal.

The Spanish giants have been locking up top players left and right, with Gareth Bale becoming the latest on Sunday, per the club's official Twitter account:

Pepe has yet to sign a deal, however, and other clubs have taken note. The veteran previously played under Mourinho when the latter was in charge at the Bernabeu.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a wonderful 2015-16 season, culminating in a fantastic outing at UEFA Euro 2016, where he lifted the trophy with Portugal. He's been solid for Real so far this season, although the club's defence has been an area of weakness.

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Real are expected to continue their negotiations with Pepe and come to an agreement, although his advanced age could complicate matters. In Raphael Varane, they have a star youngster ready to become a regular starter alongside Sergio Ramos, who hasn't featured for the club since September due to injury.

Pepe has had his share of injury issues as well, via ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan:

When healthy, the centre-back is still one of the world's top defenders, combining athleticism and raw physical strength with solid vision. While he's prone to the odd mistake and can lose his composure at times, he's been a key player for Real for many years now, proving his worth time and time again.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Clubs such as United and Chelsea would undoubtedly love to add the veteran to their squad, but unless Real are convinced he has little left in the tank, he'll likely sign a new contract at some point in the near future.

Meanwhile, Steve Bates of the Sunday People reported Mourinho has blocked Schweinsteiger from playing for United's reserve team after manager Warren Joyce asked whether he could play for the Red Devils in the under-23 Premier League.

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Mourinho has sidelined Schweinsteiger at every turn this season after the German refused to leave during the summer, and he's widely expected to move in January, per the report. He reportedly earns £170,000 per week in wages, money United would love to have come off the books.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has already indicated he would love for the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner to move to the United States, per Eurosport (h/t Daily Star's Rhys Turrell), and FC Dallas president Dan Hunt has hinted his team could accommodate him, per SPOX (h/t Daily Express' Uche Amako):

"

He is an incredible player. I always admired him and the success that his teams had.

That is no coincidence, he is a winner.

[…] That is difficult to predict. At the moment we only have space for one designated player and we wanted to fill this with a striker.

Maybe it changes, we will see.

"

Schweinsteiger has handled all of the setbacks with grace so far, but United have made no secret of the fact they want him to leave, and this report is but the latest in a long line of not-so-subtle hints.

A January departure seems inevitable, as long as the former Bayern Munich man is willing to compromise on his future wages.