Bayern Munich’s director of sport Christian Nerlinger says that they will not be held to ransom over the signing of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from Schalke in the summer.
The German giants have been heavily linked with the 25-year-old highly-rated Neuer, with strong suggestions in the German media that the custodian will end up at the Allianz Arena before the start of next season.
Neuer himself has ruled out a move to a foreign league and has said that he wants to continue to play in the Bundesliga, but has also refused to extend his deal at Schalke beyond 2012.
However, the Royal Blues reportedly want €25 million for the Germany international, a sum that Bayern are refusing to meet. Reports on Wednesday evening suggested that Bayern are willing to pay €19m and add midfielder Luiz Gustavo into the deal, but Nerlinger has now said that they will not be forced into making any rash decision.
“Every player has his price, but Bayern have always been renowned for not letting ourselves be put under any pressure,” he told the Tz newspaper. “A healthy economic attitude is part of our concept, and that is not going to change with the transfer of Manuel Neuer.”
Nerlinger has also hinted that Bayern may not eventually sign Neuer as they have recently extended the contract of their current first choice goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt by a year.
“We have a stable solution, with or without Manuel Neuer,” he said. “We would have no qualms at all about going into the season with Jorg Butt as our number one.”
Manchester United were also linked with Neuer but last week manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded defeat in their attempt to persuade the player to move to Old Trafford.
