Bastian Schweinsteiger’s is inching closer to waking up from his Manchester United nightmare after he was spotted meeting with MLS chiefs.

The German World Cup winner joined the Red Devils from Bayern Munich in 2015 as part of former manager Louis van Gaal’s midfield reconstruction, which also included the arrival of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin.

However, after an injury-stricken first season in England, where he only featured 15 times in the Premier League, Schweinsteiger found himself exiled to train with the under-23s under new boss Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho made it clear the 32-year-old had no future with the club, despite bringing the German back into the first-team training squad recently – if only to ensure he is fit enough to be signed by another club in January.

And that club looks certain to be from the MLS, with Schweinsteiger photographed meeting Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic in a Manchester restaurant.

The pair held a four-hour lunch on Wednesday with, according to the Daily Express.

Velijko Paunovic, Chicago Fire's head coach, leaving the Piccolino restaurant (Eamonn Clarke)

However, the MLS club refused to confirm the report but a spokesman did confirm that Paunovic is travelling through Europe on a scouting trip at present.