United plot moves

Monday, 25/10/2010

Having reassured Wayne Rooney sufficiently to stay at the club, Manchester United are preparing to splash the cash on rebuilding their squad.

While under-performers such as Ji-Sung Park, Michael Carrick and Wes Brown could be offloaded in January, Sir Alex Ferguson is targeting a star name to bolster his midfield.

Top of his shortlist is thought to be Bayern Munich general Bastian Schweinsteiger, who wowed in the World Cup for Germany and was linked with Chelsea in the summer.

The 26-year-old would set United back around £25m and Bayern may be forced to cash in on their prized asset, as his contract expires at the end of next season. 

Another World Cup star that has caught Fergie's eye is Inter's Wesley Sneijder, who was a losing finalist for Holland in South Africa.

Also 26, the Dutch star signed a five-year deal when arriving at the San Siro from Real Madrid and would be harder to snare, though a fee in excess of £20m would surely tempt the European champions.

With veteran Paul Scholes still his midfield lynchpin, and with the fitness concerns surrounding Owen Hargreaves, Ferguson is likely to move for one of these two megastars in the winter window, despite them being ineligible for any european ties.

* United fans, are these the sort of players you've been waiting to see arrive at Old Trafford?

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