Manchester United are pressing ahead with plans to sign Bastian Schweinsteiger after identifying the Bayern Munich and Germany player as a leading midfield target this summer.

Louis van Gaal is also keen to bring Kevin Strootman to Old Trafford, but with the Holland midfielder not expected to return to action until the autumn after a serious knee injury, any prospective transfer would be unlikely to be formally completed until next year should Roma, his club, want to sell.

Although Van Gaal has made purchasing a world-class central defender his priority after the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic — Mats Hummels, of Borussia Dortmund, is a target — the incoming manager is also determined to address United’s weaknesses in midfield. David Moyes, who was