Friday, December 3, 2010

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Manchester United hopes of summer move for Bastian Schweinsteiger scuppered by Bayern Munich

Manchester United are facing a new battle with Bayern Munich if they are to lure Bastian Schweinsteiger to Old Trafford next summer.

Manchester United hopes of summer move for Bastian Schweinsteiger scuppered by Bayern Munich
Hot property: Bastian Schweinsteiger is being courted by Manchester United Photo: AFP

The Bundesliga club have warned that Germany international Schweinsteiger will be forced to honour the remaining 18 months of his contract.

United, who spent more than a year attempting to thrash out a deal for Owen Hargreaves prior to his £18m transfer from Bayern in May 2007, are keen to take advantage of Schweinsteiger’s current contract stalemate with last season’s Champions League finalists.

Schweinsteiger, 26, has so far refused to commit to a new deal at the Allianz Arena, prompting United, Chelsea and Barcelona to increase their interest in the player, who starred for Germany during the World Cup.

Schweinsteiger has admitted a desire to play in the Premier League, with United understood to be his preferred destination, but Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out the prospect of a sale next summer to avoid him leaving as a free agent in June 2012.

Rummenigge said: “Let me make this absolutely clear - our goal is to agree a long-term contract extension with Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“And we’ve agreed with (coach) Louis van Gaal that Bastian will not under any circumstances be allowed to leave until his contract ends.

“We all think Bastian has come on superbly in the last two years. He has become one of Bayern and Germany’s best players.

“He was a vital component in our success last season and our success this season and I’m optimistic that we will reach a fair solution with Bastian and his agents.”

Bayern, who reported an annual turnover of €312m on Tuesday, have agreed long-term contracts with Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Philipp Lahm since the end of last season.

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