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sport
football
teams
manchester-united
8478227
-----
# Manchester United ready to pounce for Manuel Neuer as row brews between
Schalke and Bayern Munich
## An escalating war of words between Schalke and Bayern Munich has given
Manchester United a chance to lure ace goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to Old
Trafford.
![Manchester United ready to pounce for Manuel Neuer as row brews between
Schalke and Bayern Munich][1]
Come to me: Sir Alex Ferguson congratulates Schalke goalkeepr Manuel Neuer
after an outstanding display against Manchester United in the Champions League
semi-final Photo: AFP
[![Mark Ogden][2]][3]
By [Mark Ogden][4] 7:15AM BST 28 Apr 2011
[Follow Mark Ogden on Twitter][5]
[Comments][6]
Germany keeper Neuer, 25, was credited by Sir Alex Ferguson as producing
"probably the finest display of goalkeeping against us in my time at
**[Manchester United][7]**", during the 2-0 **[Champions League][8]** semi-
final first-leg victory against Schalke in the Veltins Arena on Tuesday.
Neuer has been regularly scouted by United as the club attempt to identify a
successor to Edwin van der Sar, who has confirmed his intention to retire at
the end of the season.
But having been advised that Neuer favours a move to Bayern, United have
shifted their attentions elsewhere, with Atletico Madrid's David de Gea and
Ajax No1 Maarten Stekelenburg now leading targets.
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has warned, however, that his club will not
pay an "astronomical" fee for Neuer if Schalke attempt to capitalise on his
performance against United.
"We want Manuel," Hoeness said. "When there's a desire, we can find a
solution. But Schalke's management must now not come up with an astronomical
sum. Negotiations haven't started, but they are imminent."
## Related Articles
* [Neuer's masterclass][9]
27 Apr 2011
* [Who replaces Van der Sar?][10]
27 Apr 2011
* [Neuer: Ferguson's praise no consolation][11]
27 Apr 2011
* [Neuer yet to agree Bayern deal][12]
27 Apr 2011
* ['Third goal would have secured final spot'][13]
27 Apr 2011
* [How United's dominance unfolded][14]
27 Apr 2011
Bayern's path to signing Neuer appears to have been complicated by the
keeper's stunning display against United, however. And Schalke sporting
director Horst Heldt insists that the club will not be bullied into selling
Neuer, despite his admission last week that he will not renew his contract,
which expires in June next year.
Heldt said: "His value on the transfer market is already very high. I don't
know if it can still go up, but watching this match [against United], I said
to myself, 'Why sell such a player?'
"We have the world's best goalkeeper and, after the United game, people in 140
countries now know this. But the fact is that we have a contract with Neuer
that runs until 2012 and that is the only thing that counts.
"I know the mechanics of this business and, if a club offers 100 million for
him, then you cannot expect me to say that he is not for sale.
"But we have seen his value to us and money cannot quantify his contribution
in all competitions, so we are very relaxed about the situation."
Neuer's tearful admission that he would cut his ties with Schalke, having
arrived at the club as a six-year-old prodigy, prompted an angry backlash from
supporters, who regard the prospect of a move to Bayern - Schalke's bitter
rivals - as little short of treachery.
The keeper also faces a battle for hearts and minds at the Allianz Arena,
however, should he pursue a move to Bayern. Such is the animosity between the
two clubs that Neuer was greeted with banners declaring 'No Neuer Here!' when
Schalke played Bayern in Munich last month.
Neuer is already an unpopular figure among Bayern supporters after celebrating
a Schalke victory two seasons ago by mimicking former Bayern keeper Oliver
Kahn's trophy-lifting celebration in front of the Munich fans.
Whether Ferguson is prepared to perform a U-turn by making a firm move for
Neuer is debatable, however.
Despite United goalkeeper coach Eric Steele voicing strong support for Neuer,
Ferguson is of the belief that Bayern are unlikely to relinquish their grip,
hence United's failure so far to lodge a bid for the keeper.
United are prepared to meet Atletico's £22 million valuation of De Gea, but
the Spain Under-21 keeper is unconvinced by the prospect of a move to England
and his reticence has led to United exploring the possibility of striking a
deal with Sporting Lisbon for Rui Patricio.
At £10 million, the 23-year-old would be an inexpensive acquisition, but at
this stage, he is regarded as a contingency plan, rather than a prime target.
Steele has also monitored the 18-year-old Racing Genk goalkeeper Thibaut
Courtois as a long-term prospect and sources in Belgium have claimed that
conversations relating to Courtois centred on him being identified as a cover
for Stekelenburg, the injured Ajax keeper.
United's Dutch first-team coach, Rene Meulensteen, has admitted that the
Holland No1 is a leading target and, having told Ajax he will not stay beyond
the final 12 months of his contract, is expected to leave the Amsterdam club
for no more than £15million this summer.
The inquiries for De Gea and Patricio are typical of United's broad approach
to recruiting players, with the club previously having made decoy moves for
players - notably the aborted move for Villarreal's Marcos Senna while chasing
Owen Hargreaves - before signing another target.
Intriguingly, United retain a strong interest in Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe
Reina, whose £20million escape clause at Anfield can be triggered by a club
in the Champions League.
While Reina appears to have restated his commitment to Liverpool in recent
days, United have not ruled out a move for the 28 year-old, believing that his
escape clause removes the obvious difficulties of doing business with their
century-old rivals at Anfield.
Neuer's performance on Tuesday has highlighted the availability of a rising
star, however, and a warm welcome from 75,000 United supporters at Old
Trafford ahead of next Wednesday's second-leg could yet trigger an unlikely
decision by the German to place United ahead of Bayern.
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Telegraph
## [Manchester United][7]
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[![Barcelona v Manchester United: Champions League final live ][24] ][25]
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[![Darren Ferguson - Champions League final 2011: 'Sir Alex Ferguson got up at
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[![Wayne Rooney must show the world his talent in the Champions League final,
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