Schweinsteiger set to move to Manchester United?

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be given the choice of whether to stay or leave the Bundesliga champions, manager Pep Guardiola said on Thursday.

The 30-year-old German World Cup winner has been linked in media reports with a move to Manchester United where he would be reunited with manager Louis van Gaal who converted him from a wide player into a central midfielder during his time at Bayern.

"If Schweinsteiger wants to stay here then that's perfect. He's a top player," Guardiola told a news conference on Thursday.

"Of course I am planning to work with Basti next season. Basti has to decide.

"Basti has managed a great career. He must decide what he does alone. I told him, the future depends on you."

Schweinsteiger came through the youth ranks at Bayern and has spent 13 seasons with the Bavarians, winning the Bundesliga title eight times.

Image: Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters