With Bastian Schweinsteiger officially headed to Manchester United now, where does that leave the team’s pursuit of Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin? Conventional wisdom dictates that it would be one of the two midfielders brought to Old Trafford, or the other; but not both.
Then again, Manager Louis van Gaal isn’t all that conventional anyway. And how great would it be for all media, to have the opportunity to say Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin all the time? It’s not likely, but much weirder things have happened.
Van Gaal could devise a line-up that could accommodate both. However, United have Michael Carrick, along with Ander Herrera. The middle isn’t as much of a pressing need as other areas of the team. One thing’s for sure, we won’t have to watch Wayne Rooney playing midfielder anymore. He’ll almost certainly stay at striker now; where he belongs.
The transfer gossip says that Schneiderlin could join United if the club reportedly agrees on a £25 million deal with Southampton. The Old Trafford giants were reportedly willing to pay an initial £20 million with add-ons if the Frenchman is a hit with the Red Devils.
That was before the Schweinsteiger signing however. Now the negotiation game has changed completely. United can take their time during talks, and not feel any pressure regarding price.
Another point in United’s favor is that Schneiderlin doesn’t appear to be settled at Southampton. Mauricio Pochettino tried to bring him with up to Tottenham Hotspur, but that didn’t work out. Spurs isn’t much of an upgrade from Saints anyway. Schneiderlin to United isn’t all that likely, but he’s probably going somewhere. Could be Arsenal? He’s been linked there quite a bit lately.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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