Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has wasted no time in reacting to the Champions' League Final defeat to Barcelona by informing his chief executive David Gill of his two primary transfer targets. Bayern München midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is top of the list, as Ferguson looks to replace the retired Paul Scholes. The German schemer has spent his entire career in Bavaria but is known to be unhappy with the direction of the club following Louis Van Gaal's departure. Schweinsteiger, who turns 27 in August, only signed a new contract with "FC Hollywood" in December but is keen to make a move to England while still in the prime of his career. However, Bayern are unwilling to part with arguably their star asset and are thought to be demanding a fee in excess of £30m. Ferguson has told Gill that this level of investment is necessary if the club is ever to challenge the likes of Barcelona at the very highest level.
The other target is former United frontman Guiseppe Rossi. The Italian-American left the club in 2007 and has excelled in La Liga with Villarreal. Having developed as a player, Ferguson is now keen to bring the 24 year old back to Manchester to replace the outgoing Dimitar Berbatov, who could be set for a return to his own former club, Tottenham Hotspur. Villarreal qualified for the Champions League but remain relative minnows in the grand scheme of European football and will not stand in Rossi's way should United stump up the £12m fee demanded.
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