Manchester United have made Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger their top summer target, after new manager Louis van Gaal dismissed the ground work that David Moyes undertook in his pursuit of the 29-year-old’s fellow German Toni Kroos.

Van Gaal is convinced that Schweinsteiger is the world class midfielder United’s midfield needs and the Old Trafford club appear ready to move rapidly. Having entrusted Van Gaal with the job of reviving the club, United are ready to abandon the exhaustive process of due diligence which Moyes was asked to undertake when he wanted players in his single season at United. Moyes’ hopes of signing the Porto pair Fernando and Eliaquim Managa were dashed last summer when he was asked for the kind detailed cost-justification reports which were never prepared by his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson and could not provide that level of detail in time.

But with United yet to strengthen their squad in any way ahead of a 2014/15 in which they intend to come storming back into the top four, the new Dutch manager is likely to be handed the £25m needed to sign Schweinsteiger. The midfielder is likely to be open to such a move, as he is thought not to have the same relationship with Pep Guardiola that he enjoyed with the Spaniard’s predecessor Jupp Heynckes.

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Shape Created with Sketch. Manchester United: Potential summer transfer targets Show all 19 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Manchester United: Potential summer transfer targets 1/19 Arturo Vidal The Juventus midfielder is among United's top targets this summer, particularly after impressing for Chile at the World Cup. Having helped his current team secure the Serie A title, Juventus aren't keen on letting him go. Getty Images 2/19 Marco Reus Rumoured to be near the top of United's target list, a possible swap deal involving cash and Shinji Kagawa has been mentioned. The Borussia Dortmund player would not be a cheap acquisition, especially given his recent declaration that he wants to stay at Dortmund next season Getty Images 3/19 Arda Turan Former manager David Moyes had been seen watching Turan, though his dismissal put a doubt over whether United were still interested. The winger's agent claims an offer has been made, so is the Atletico Madrid winger on his way to Old Trafford? Getty Images 4/19 Arjen Robben The Bayern Munich winger has said Van Gaal has offered him a place at Old Trafford if he wants it. Currently he's happy to stay where he is, but things can quickly change. GETTY IMAGES 5/19 Claudio Marchisio With Paul Pogba highly unlikely to be prised away from Juventus, United's attention could turn to team-mate Claudio Marchisio. The Italian international would provide some class and experience. 6/19 Mats Hummels With defensive reinforcements high on United's list of priorities, Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels has unsurprisingly been linked with a move to Old Trafford. The German has been earmarked as the ideal replacement for the now-departed Rio Ferdinand and after his impressive showing at the World Cup, he's even more desirable. GETTY IMAGES 7/19 Raphael Varane Raphael Varane has already snubbed United once in his career, opting instead to join Real Madrid. It would surely take a big offer to prise the classy defender away now. GETTY IMAGES 8/19 Seamus Coleman Reportedly already the subject of a £15m bid, Seamus Coleman could be the man being lined up as the answer to United's problems at right-back. GETTY IMAGES 9/19 William Carvalho The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has reportedly been watched 15 times by Manchester United, although the £29m asking price could prove a stumbling block. The Portugal international has also been linked with Arsenal. Getty Images 10/19 Xherdan Shaqiri Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri has struggled to force his way into the first team at the Allianz Arena and could be a target for United as well as rivals Liverpool. His impressive displays for Switzerland this summer could make it harder to prise him away. GETTY IMAGES 11/19 Alex Song Barcelona are understood to be ready to let the former Arsenal player leave this summer. Could provide some strength to United's midfield. Could also bring embarrassment judging by his behaviour at the World Cup. GETTY IMAGES 12/19 Fabio Coentrao Supposedly came within hours of signing in January, the Portuguese left back could be brought in to provide back-up to Luke Shaw. 13/19 Julian Draxler A long time Arsenal target, United are reportedly interested in pinching the young German with a bumper offer. Seems unlikely though. Arsenal also strongly interested. 14/19 Sami Khedira The Germany international is reportedly being pursued by a host of sides, and United might be wise to get in the mix as they look to add some quality to a fairly feeble looking midfield. Real Madrid appear open to letting him go with the 27-year-old having just one year left on his contract. Arsenal and Chelsea are among the others keen on signing the World Cup winner. 15/19 Edinson Cavani The Uruguayan hitman would prove pricey and tricky to snatch away from PSG and it seems unlikely United have enough to offer him. 16/19 Luciano Vietto The Racing Club youngster has been impressing in Argentina for some time although a move directly to United would be something of a surprise. 17/19 Santiago Arias Should a move for Seamus Coleman fail, PSV defender Arias is reportedly being lined up by United. Played for Colombia throughout the group stage of the World Cup. 18/19 Miralem Pjanic Rumoured to part of a joint bid including teammate Benatia, the Bosnian midfielder is reportedly another on United's large hit list. Getty 19/19 Kevin Strootman Van Gaal knows Strootman well from working with him in the Netherlands set-up and has indicated he is interested. Roma are reluctant to sell whilst his recovery from a knee injury may prove a stumbling block. GETTY IMAGES 1/19 Arturo Vidal The Juventus midfielder is among United's top targets this summer, particularly after impressing for Chile at the World Cup. Having helped his current team secure the Serie A title, Juventus aren't keen on letting him go. Getty Images 2/19 Marco Reus Rumoured to be near the top of United's target list, a possible swap deal involving cash and Shinji Kagawa has been mentioned. The Borussia Dortmund player would not be a cheap acquisition, especially given his recent declaration that he wants to stay at Dortmund next season Getty Images 3/19 Arda Turan Former manager David Moyes had been seen watching Turan, though his dismissal put a doubt over whether United were still interested. The winger's agent claims an offer has been made, so is the Atletico Madrid winger on his way to Old Trafford? Getty Images 4/19 Arjen Robben The Bayern Munich winger has said Van Gaal has offered him a place at Old Trafford if he wants it. Currently he's happy to stay where he is, but things can quickly change. GETTY IMAGES 5/19 Claudio Marchisio With Paul Pogba highly unlikely to be prised away from Juventus, United's attention could turn to team-mate Claudio Marchisio. The Italian international would provide some class and experience. 6/19 Mats Hummels With defensive reinforcements high on United's list of priorities, Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels has unsurprisingly been linked with a move to Old Trafford. The German has been earmarked as the ideal replacement for the now-departed Rio Ferdinand and after his impressive showing at the World Cup, he's even more desirable. GETTY IMAGES 7/19 Raphael Varane Raphael Varane has already snubbed United once in his career, opting instead to join Real Madrid. It would surely take a big offer to prise the classy defender away now. GETTY IMAGES 8/19 Seamus Coleman Reportedly already the subject of a £15m bid, Seamus Coleman could be the man being lined up as the answer to United's problems at right-back. GETTY IMAGES 9/19 William Carvalho The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has reportedly been watched 15 times by Manchester United, although the £29m asking price could prove a stumbling block. The Portugal international has also been linked with Arsenal. Getty Images 10/19 Xherdan Shaqiri Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri has struggled to force his way into the first team at the Allianz Arena and could be a target for United as well as rivals Liverpool. His impressive displays for Switzerland this summer could make it harder to prise him away. GETTY IMAGES 11/19 Alex Song Barcelona are understood to be ready to let the former Arsenal player leave this summer. Could provide some strength to United's midfield. Could also bring embarrassment judging by his behaviour at the World Cup. GETTY IMAGES 12/19 Fabio Coentrao Supposedly came within hours of signing in January, the Portuguese left back could be brought in to provide back-up to Luke Shaw. 13/19 Julian Draxler A long time Arsenal target, United are reportedly interested in pinching the young German with a bumper offer. Seems unlikely though. Arsenal also strongly interested. 14/19 Sami Khedira The Germany international is reportedly being pursued by a host of sides, and United might be wise to get in the mix as they look to add some quality to a fairly feeble looking midfield. Real Madrid appear open to letting him go with the 27-year-old having just one year left on his contract. Arsenal and Chelsea are among the others keen on signing the World Cup winner. 15/19 Edinson Cavani The Uruguayan hitman would prove pricey and tricky to snatch away from PSG and it seems unlikely United have enough to offer him. 16/19 Luciano Vietto The Racing Club youngster has been impressing in Argentina for some time although a move directly to United would be something of a surprise. 17/19 Santiago Arias Should a move for Seamus Coleman fail, PSV defender Arias is reportedly being lined up by United. Played for Colombia throughout the group stage of the World Cup. 18/19 Miralem Pjanic Rumoured to part of a joint bid including teammate Benatia, the Bosnian midfielder is reportedly another on United's large hit list. Getty 19/19 Kevin Strootman Van Gaal knows Strootman well from working with him in the Netherlands set-up and has indicated he is interested. Roma are reluctant to sell whilst his recovery from a knee injury may prove a stumbling block. GETTY IMAGES

Schweinsteiger is thought not to move the ball quickly enough for the kind of football Guardiola is trying to introduce at the Allianz Arena and the Spaniard is ready to move him on this summer.

United are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements. Though Juan Mata’s arrival in January brought class to the club, he has not displayed the physical strength in midfield that Moyes needed and there are doubts among some of Van Gaal’s new United coaching staff that he has the physicality to be a successful United players, despite his strong work ethic.

In a summer when there will be uncertainty about the futures of Tom Cleverley, and Nani and a toe injury potentially delaying Darren Fletcher’s start to the new season, Schweinsteiger will provide much needed physicality alongside Michael Carrick. The urgency of United’s pursuit of him intensified this week when another of Van Gaal’s targets – Thomas Muller – committed his own future to Bayern Munich by signing a new contract.

United had hoped to secure at least one signing before the start of the World Cup and will be helped in their pursuit of Schweinsteiger by the midfielder’s exceptional relationship with Van Gaal. The Dutchman, who has a reputation for personally helping to develop players helped develop him into a world class central midfielder during his two years in Munich from 2009.

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