How United could line up with Schweinsteiger

Reports in Germany claim that the 30-year-old is
closing in on a €20 million move to Old Trafford
but where would he slot in? Goal takes a look at
the options...
Friday evening sent the rumour mill into overdrive
as Bild reported that Bastian Schweinsteiger's
move to Manchester United is all but confirmed.
The report claimed that the World Cup-winning
midfielder will join from Bayern Munich in a €20
million (£14.3m) deal and has signed a three-year
contract worth €10m (£7.1m) per season with
Louis van Gaal's side .
So with reports in Germany claiming a deal is all
but done, where will the 30-year-old fit in to Van
Gaal's plans at United? Goal looks at the
possibilities...
SCHWEINSTEIGER ALONGSIDE MATA & HERRERA
Juan Mata and Ander Herrera struck up an
excellent understanding as last season progressed
but with the absence of Michael Carrick, United
lacked that vital link from defence to midfield.
Schweinsteiger has the experience and the
technical ability to plug that gap which allows Mata
and Herrera to create further forward but would
leaving Carrick, so influential for much of the last
campaign, out of the side really be an option?
SCHWEINSTEIGER PAIRED WITH HERRERA IN A
3-4-3
If Van Gaal decides to go with a 3-4-3 (or 3-5-2,
as he experimented with in the last campaign) next
season, Herrera and Schweinsteiger could be the
best central combination United possess.
When asked about signing a new deep-lying
midfielder in May, Van Gaal confessed that his
options are limited, aside from Carrick, and that he
prefers Herrera in a more advanced midfield role.
"No.6 is a key player, yes. I have more key roles –
the no.6 is just one of those key roles," said the
United manager. "You have seen this season, for
example, because Carrick is injured and I don't
have another, I have to play with Herrera there. He
did it very well, but it is not his speciality.
"I have played Wayne Rooney there also, but it is
not his favoured position. I had to do this because
I don't have another right-footed holding midfielder
like Carrick. That is why it is a key role, but I
cannot discuss other positions because then I
show too much."
SCHWEINSTEIGER & MATA AHEAD OF CARRICK
Given his importance to United last term, it's
unlikely that Carrick will find himself on the bench
when fit next season.
With the 33-year-old taking up his anchoring role,
it would allow Schweinsteiger and Mata to push
further forward in order to support Memphis Depay,
Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria - who could
switch back to a right-wing spot after impressing
in a similar role for Argentina at the Copa America
earlier this summer.
SCHWEINSTEIGER & CARRICK HOLDING
A trio of Depay, Di Maria and Ashley Young
presents a formidable counter-attacking unit that's
filled with pace. Carrick and Schweinsteiger would
be at the base which would allow the trio to
flourish and link with Rooney in attack.
The presence of Carrick would also allow
Schweinsteiger greater freedom to get involved in
attacks, while Di Maria would be afforded further
license to operate in more of a free role, which
could see him at his most dangerous.
SCHWEINSTEIGER & HERRERA IN A 4-4-2
Could Memphis Depay form a strike partnership
with Wayne Rooney? Van Gaal is short of options
and hasn't ruled out the possibility of using the
21-year-old as a forward.
If the United boss opts to go with that pairing up
front in a 4-4-2 system, Schweinsteiger and
Herrera being flanked by Young and Di Maria looks
to be a balanced midfield option.