Bastian Schweinsteiger arrived at Old Trafford last summer amid much fanfare, but failed to meet expectations at Manchester United. New manager Jose Mourinho doesn’t consider him a part of his plans for next season and the German icon is set to leave the club during this transfer window.
The 32-year-old central midfielder was one of the most high-profile transfers of last summer, as former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal snapped him up from Bayern Munich for £6.5 million. However, he went on to make just 18 league appearances for the Red Devils due to injuries and poor form.
New manager Jose Mourinho reportedly has no place for the German in his first team squad. He was omitted from Manchester United’s pre-season tour, and has now been banished to the reserve team dressing room, according to the Daily Mail. The Red Devils are looking to offload the player, but his huge wages could prove to be detrimental to any negotiations.
TheHardTackle looks at three clubs who could possibly take Schweinsteiger off Mourinho’s hands this summer.
1. Inter Milan
The fallen giants of Italy have tied down former Man City manager Roberto Mancini to a new contract, and are looking to make a few key signings this summer to take them back to the top. The Serie A club have received a big infusion of cash from the Chinese takeover and can afford to think of signing a few marquee players after suffering in recent transfer windows due to financial restrictions.
Teams in the Serie A play a more tactical and less physical brand of football as compared to the Premier League. This could be a boon for Schweinsteiger given his injury issues. The German would fit in well into the first team, playing in midfield alongside the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Marcelo Brozovic and new signing Ever Banega. His experience could count for a lot in a team captained by a 23-year-old in Mauro Icardi. Schweinsteiger may also consider taking a pay cut to move to the historic club, which would help facilitate a transfer.
2. Besiktas
Picture Credits: AFP/Getty Images
The Turkish Superlig is the destination of choice for big-name players in the twilight of their careers. Schweinsteiger could well look to the route that his international teammates Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski have taken and consider a move to Turkey. The 32-year-old midfielder would definitely be a huge signing for the league and Besiktas could be willing to meet his wage demands.
Besiktas have already approached Man United over a possible transfer, and a loan deal with an option to buy may be on the cards. The club have been linked with a number of Premier League players this summer, including Liverpool castaway Mario Balotelli and Man City defender Aleksandar Kolarov. However, Schweinsteiger could be the most attractive option for the club considering his star power and wealth of experience.
3. Borussia Dortmund
Schweinsteiger is a revered figure in Germany, having been an important player for the national team as well as Bavarian giants Bayern Munich over the past decade. Bayern’s biggest rivals for the Bundesliga title, Borussia Dortmund, have been crippled this summer by the loss of some of their most experienced players. Captain Mats Hummels moved to Bayern, while midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved to Man City and Man United respectively.
Although odds are that Schweinsteiger is unlikely to consider a move back to the Bundesliga, his experience and leadership would help steady a Dortmund side reeling from the loss of key players. He could provide guidance to the young talent that Die Borussen have signed and would also be a great replacement for Gundogan.
