Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Germany captain Schweinsteiger is expected to link up with former Bayern boss Louis van Gaal for a second time as United edge towards one of their major targets in the transfer market.
United and Schweinsteiger are on the brink of agreeing personal terms, which would give the 30-year-old a sizeable pay rise.
They and Bayern are yet to announce a fee for Schweinsteiger but, at 30 and with a solitary year left on his contract, United are in a strong bargaining position.
Schweinsteiger had been due to hold talks with Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge this weekend about his future but is now likely to inform the Bundesliga winners he wants to leave.
His arrival would represent a major coup for United, who have been keen to pursue world-class players as they look to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
The midfielder has won eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern, helped them regain the Champions League in 2013 and has scored 67 goals in 500 games for the club.
He was a World Cup winner in 2014 and the Germany captain has scored 23 goals in 111 games for his country.
Van Gaal, who coached Schweinsteiger at Bayern from 2009 to 2011, wanted a midfielder who could provide an alternative to the ageing and injury-prone Michael Carrick in the holding role, but who could also operate further up the pitch.
United now face a race against time to complete a deal before they leave for their preseason tour of the United States on Monday.
United are also pursuing another midfielder, France international Morgan Schneiderlin, although Southampton have said their last bid for the player was "not serious."
They are expected to sign Torino right-back Matteo Darmian, who has undergone a medical in Manchester, over the weekend.