Manchester United plot Herrera and Shaqiri swap with Bayern

Manchester United, 7/4 chances with Coral to finish outside the top four this term, are lining up a January transfer window swap deal that will send summer signing Ander Herrera to Bayern Munich in exchange for Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri.

The weekend tabloids claim a fee of £7m plus box-to-box Basque midfielder Herrera, 25, will be enough for Louis van Gaal to land disgruntled Allianz Arena star Shaqiri, who has grown frustrated at a lack of first-team action under Pep Guardiola.

Bilbao-born Herrera has played just five times for United, scoring twice, because of injuries following a reported £30m summer switch from his hometown team. He began his career at Real Zaragoza, but then joined Athletic in 2011, who have a policy of only recruiting and allowing Basque Country natives to play for their club.

Winger and attacking midfielder Shaqiri, 23, meanwhile, was born in Kosovo, but fled the war-torn Balkan region with his parents as a child and sought asylum in Switzerland. To date, he has 41 caps and 15 international goals for his adopted country.

Under Guardiola, Shaqiri has completed 90 minutes just once this term for Bundesliga champions and leaders Bayern. Munich play Manchester City at the Etihad in their next match, despite a mounting injury crisis, which may have prompted this apparent interest in Herrera.

Shaqiri has been linked with several top Premier League teams, most notably the Red Devils’ top four rivals Arsenal and Liverpool. At Bayern, Herrera would join fellow Basque Country native Xabi Alonso, and Spain international midfielder Thiago Alcantara and left back Juan Bernat.

In the latter’s case, moving to the Allianz has enhanced his prospects. Bernat made his international debut this term, scoring against Luxembourg in October. Herrera could target similar recognition if he were to quit Old Trafford for Munich.

United are 4/1 shots to win a major trophy this season.