Manchester United Bid for Bayern Munich Star

Manchester United are ready to continue their extravagant summer spending with an ambitious bid for Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger.United created English football history by winning their 19th title last season but they have refused to rest on their laurels, knowing that rivals Chelsea and Manchester City are likely to flash the cash in a bid to knock them off their perch. With the transfer window only month old, Sir Alex Ferguson has already sanctioned £50m worth of purchases with Phil Jones arriving from Blackburn, Ashley Young joining from Aston Villa and David de Gea of Atletico Madrid replacing the retired Edwin van der Sar.

With defensive and attacking positions dealt with, United now want to address the middle of the park which is seen as a potential area of weakness. Schweinsteiger is seen as providing the answer to that problem and United will now attempt to prise him from Bavaria.

The Germany international is hugely important to Bayern having spent his entire professional career there. The situation is all the more complicated after the 26-year-old signed a new contract with the club last autumn in light of strong interest from Chelsea, a deal that commits him to the Allianz Arena until 2016.

Officially the player is not for sale but United hope an offer of £30m will change their mind.