Manchester United are close to signing Bastian Schweinsteiger

The rumour mill linking Manchester United with new signings is working overtime at the moment, with stories from the past 12 hours claiming that Mats Hummels has turned down a move to Old Trafford but Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi is in, while Gareth Bale could make a 120 million euro move to the Theatre of Dreams too.

Now, German magazine Kicker have categorically reported that Manchester United want Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Kicker claim that Schweinsteiger’s standing has “recently fallen” at the Allainz Arena, suggesting that Pep Guardiola is open to selling the 30-year-old World Cup winner at the right price.

Schweinsteiger is currently under contract at Bayern until 2016, and Kicker note that nothing is happening on the contract renewal front.

Kicker add that former Munich boss Louis van Gaal now wants to “lure the vice-captain of Bayern” to join his ranks at Man United.

Finally, Kicker say they have a “reliable English source” who has fed them the Bastian Schweinsteiger to United story.

Since winning the World Cup, Bayern have played 51 games. Unfortunately for Schweinsteiger, injuries have limited him to playing in just 27 of those matches, where he has scored four goals and contributed with eight assists.