Thomas Müller has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Europe’s other elite clubs by admitting he wants to establish whether Bayern Munich view him as an “essential component of the first XI” for next season. The attacking midfielder is unsure of his status after Pep Guardiola’s first term in charge.

Louis van Gaal remains an admirer of Müller and the new Manchester United manager gave him his Bayern debut in the 2009-10 season when previously in charge of the German champions.

Under Guardiola, Müller managed to score 13 times in 25 Bundesliga starts despite the Spanish coach often asking him to play in different positions, and had been thought to be content with his role. But the 24-year-old has now decided he wants greater clarification.

“I have reached the point where I want to know if I am an essential component of the Bayern Munich first XI for the new season and if the club has plans for me over the coming years,” Müller told the German magazine Stern. “That’s why I will be out to have a meeting. I am not the type of guy that says: ‘All right, I have played a good part and will keep my mouth shut and everyone else is able to do with me whatever he wants.’ As a Munich boy your test at Bayern Munich is always a bit tougher, but we [players from the youth academy] are the grassroots of this club.”

Van Gaal may consider a move for Müller should there be a possibility that he could leave Bayern and the player spoke last month about their relationship. “It’s no secret that Louis van Gaal and I have a relationship that goes a little beyond the normal relationship between coaches and players,” he said.

However, given Müller’s proven quality United would face competition for his signature and he would perhaps prefer a move to a club in next season’s Champions League over one to Old Trafford.