Bastian Schweinsteiger should join Manchester United - Lothar Matthaus

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been told to complete a summer move to Manchester United in order to reinvigorate his career.

The World Cup-winning Germany international made just 15 Bundesliga starts last season, with Toni Kroos and Xabi Alonso preferred in midfield by manager Pep Guardiola.

The Express has linked Manchester United with a £10m ($15.9m) move for Schweinsteiger this summer and Matthaus, twice a Champions League runner-up with Bayern, says the move would help resuscitate the 30 year old's career.

"I understand that Schweinsteiger is wondering about his future," he told SportBild.

"Bastian announced that he wants to play football at the highest level until 2018. But in the way he was used at Bayern recently, I think this is impossible.

"There is no doubt he is intelligent enough and has the right overview to further take the role as a conductor in a holding midfield.

"If Schweinsteiger gets an offer from a top European club, I would advise him a transfer in the summer," he added.

"If the rumours are true that Louis van Gaal wants to bring him to Manchester United, Schweinsteiger should think about that carefully. If Van Gaal wants him, he will let him play where his strengths are."

Despite Ander Herrera and Daley Blind joining last summer, United's shortage of midfield options was exposed by a harrowing injury crisis that saw Michael Carrick miss long periods of the season.

The team's struggles without Carrick exposed their reliance on the England international and Van Gaal has already confirmed that a deep-lying midfielder is among his priorities in the transfer window this summer.

Though Schweinsteiger has received a glowing recommendation from Matthaus, former Bayern boss Ottmar Hitzfeld feels leaving the Allianz Arena would be a mistake.

"Adapting to a different European league is difficult at his age," he said. "He has played with great force and put a lot of pressure on his body for many years. That saps energy. He could end his career in the USA instead.

"If I was at Schweinsteiger's place, I would stay one or two years more at Bayern. Until then, he can still perform at the highest level."