Manchester United are said to be welcoming any and all approaches for midfield outcast Bastian Schweinsteiger as they look to offload the German. Meanwhile, Reece Oxford has reportedly stalled on a new West Ham United contract.
Manager Jose Mourinho was motivated to sell Schweinsteiger over the summer, and United are still happy to cash in on his services despite a sticky start to the season, per the Daily Mail (h/t Samuel Stevens of the Irish Independent).
The former Bayern Munich playmaker is yet to feature under Mourinho this season and was told to train with United's reserves over the summer months, encouraging speculation the manager would opt to sell the veteran.
But a move never materialised, and Schweinsteiger instead remains in a state of limbo at Old Trafford—blogger Liam Canning noted it is a very odd situation after his arrival just over a year ago:
News of United's desperation to sell Schweinsteiger comes not long after Goal reported the club had accepted a loss of £6.7 million as a result of the player's demotion from Mourinho's first-team ranks.
According to a financial document from the club, as published in the Goal report, Schweinsteiger's omission from the Red Devils' UEFA Europa League squad was responsible for almost half of United's "exceptional costs" for this financial year:
Exceptional costs for the year were £15.1m. Of which £8.4m related to compensation to the former manager and certain members of the coaching staff for loss of office and £6.7m related to a registrations’ impairment charge regarding a reduction in the carrying value of a player no longer considered to be a member of the first team playing squad.
The debacle has devolved over time, but Schweinsteiger struggled to prove his fitness after being signed by managerial predecessor Louis van Gaal last summer, completing the full 90 minutes on just 11 occasions.
Bleacher Report's Rob Blanchette recently voiced the opinion the German at least deserves to be higher than club captain Wayne Rooney in Mourinho's midfield pecking order:
Elsewhere, the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel reported Oxford has delayed signing a new contract at the London Stadium, meaning he could be left available on a free transfer at the end of this season.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City have all been linked with the player since he burst onto the scene last term in the Hammers' opening day defeat of the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
The Red Devils are said to be in "pole position" to recruit the centre-back, who can also function in central midfield. Oxford, 17, is yet to feature in the Premier League this season, but West Ham are supposedly keen to agree a contract extension.
In the event the teenager can't come to new terms with the east London outfit, United will assuredly be among the front-runners to complete a cut-price deal for his services in 2017.