United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann hopes Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger decides to move to Major League Soccer, saying: “It would be a great thing.”
Schweinsteiger, 32, has yet to make an appearance for United since Jose Mourinho took charge in the summer and, although he has now resumed first-team training, reports suggest the former Germany captain remains available for transfer and could be sold in January.
Last month, MLS commissioner Don Garber said Schweinsteiger would be welcomed “with open arms” and Klinsmann, who managed the midfielder during his stints in charge of Germany and Bayern Munich, hopes a deal can be agreed with a team in the States.
“A lot is moving in the United States,” Klinsmann told reporters at the DFB Bundestag in Erfurt when asked about Schweinsteiger potentially moving to MLS. “It would be great, because it would help us when the young players have such a player at their side.
“If he feels like it, that would be a great thing.”
While the New York Red Bulls ruled out signing Schweinsteiger, FC Dallas president Dan Hunt recently suggested he would be open to a deal.
However, Germany head coach Joachim Low is still hopeful that Schweinsteiger will resume his United career.
“Sometimes there is a sudden turn in football. Maybe Jose Mourinho has other plans now because of the not so successful matches recently,” he told SID in Erfurt. “I also believe that he can help the team. It would be great for Basti, and that would be our wish for him.”
The former Bayern Munich midfielder is under contract at Old Trafford until 2018, and is reported to be due to earn around €20 million for the remainder of his deal.
Mourinho has said that Schweinsteiger’s return to team training was “a professional decision” and that he would be an option if United have problems in midfield, although he added: “We will be much better prepared — with much better conditions — in case his future decision is to leave the club.”
United have a wealth of options in central midfield but Paul Pogba sustained an injury in Thursday’s 2-1 loss at Fenerbahce, while Morgan Schneiderlin, who has yet to start a Premier League game under Mourinho, was substituted at half-time.
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