Everybody wants a duck for Christmas (and at 1.94m there's enough for everyone)

 

Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Schalke captain and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will fulfil his contract until 2012 at the Bundesliga club and won't be sold next summer, coach Felix Magath was on Monday quoted as saying.

'Manuel will definitely stay until 2012,' Magath was quoted as saying by Kicker sports magazine.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in Neuer. But Magath ruled out a post-season sale to generate transfer income the club would not get if Neuer leaves in 2012.

'Of course we could sell him for a lot of money. You wouldn't get an adequate replacement ... I rather play for the Champions League and even the (Bundesliga) championship then generate transfer income,' Magath said.

Neuer, 24, was born in Schalke's home town of Gelsenkirchen and joined the club at the age of five.
A poor start into the domestic season added to speculation he could leave for MUnich or another top club, but Neuer revealed nothing about his future plans in an interview with Kicker.

'It is well known that I have a contract at Schalke until 2012. I will not join the speculation,' said Neuer.

 

 

BERLIN — German number one goalkeeper Manuel Neuer doused his club Schalke 04'S hopes he would end speculation over his future by saying on Wednesday he would not sign a new contract over the Christmas break.

The 24-year-old - who was outstanding for Germany at the World Cup finals - has been linked with a move to Schalke's rivals Bayern Munich as their veteran goalkeeper Jorg Butt's contract is up at the end of the present campaign.

Schalke coach Felix Magath had sought to reassure the 'Royal Blues' fans that Neuer would see out at the very least his contract which runs till 2012, but the goalkeeper was unable to confirm that in an interview on Wednesday.

"I cannot say the same thing," said Neuer, referring to Magath's claim.

"There are always two sides to every story," added Neuer, who was speaking after Schalke had beaten Augsburg 1-0 in their German Cup clash.

Neuer was adamant that he would not be handing out Christmas cheer to the club fans, who have seen their side's Bundesliga fortunes plummet this term after finishing an impressive second last season - they are 10th, 21 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, but are through to the Champions League knockout stages.

"There will be no present for the supporters before Christmas," he said.
"I will not give in to pressure."

Bayern Munich, who have also struggled this season and are fifth in the table 14 points adrift of Dortmund, came in for fierce criticism from Schalke president Clemens Tonnies.

"If an agreement does exist between Manuel Neuer and Uli Hoeness (the Bayern Munich president), that would be a serious and illegal matter," he said.

"If that was the case then we would take action," he added, without specifying what that would be.

 

 

So much has been written about Manuel Neuer’s proposed moves to Man Utd or Bayern it could fill Old Trafford. But rumours circulating about the Schalke shot stopper just will not die and without a contract extension in Germany, the 24-year-old German International is looking more likely to move come the summer.

Neuer is tied into a £32k p/w contract with Schalke until 2012 but the German club is willing to offer the keeper a bumper £50k p/w pay raise to keep him at the Veltins Arena.

Schalke have inflated his price tag massively to £30million to ward off interest from potential suitors. However, come the summer, if no deal has been made with the 24-year-old then Schalke may have to become resigned to losing the German International, decrease his price and let him move on.

Sir Alex has been following Neuer’s progress since 2009 and will now look to make a swoop for the highly rated keeper given United’s number 1 keeper, Edwin Van der Sar, looks set to retire from football at the end of the season. However, Bayern Munich have been strongly linked to the Schalke star and may look to also make a move in the summer.

Bayern may hold off any move for Neuer to give highly-rated youngster Thomas Kraft a chance to shine for the Bavarians, but if he is yet to impress come the summer, Bayern boss, Louis Van Gaal may be ready to make an offer.

Sir Alex has already wrapped up the signature of Denmark’s Anders Lindegaard this season, but may only look to the Danish shot stopper as a back up. With no top level club experience, Sir Alex will be looking to assess his new signing and make a decision in the summer.

Neuer’s agent Thomas Kroth confirmed talks with Schalke had been penciled in for January and manager Felix Magath added:

‘Of course we want to keep the best goalkeeper in the world. But I can’t say anything about the details. It would be nice if we could start the second half of the season with clarity.’

Money may not be the only issue for Neuer as well, who despite enjoying Schalke’s progress in the Champions League this season may wonder whether another opportunity to play in the competition will come again.

After a dismal start to their league campaign, Schalke, who finished runners-up in last season’s Bundesliga campaign, languish in 15th place, just six points off the bottom.

So where would you go if you had the chance? Bayern have had a tough start to their campaign and Van Gaal finds himself under a bit of pressure at the Allainz Arena, but last year’s Bundesliga champions look decent in the Champions League and speak Neuer’s native language.

However, Man United are looking stronger of late and could still win the Premier League once again. In the Champions League they have every chance of reaching the final stages and are widely tipped to make massive improvements to their squad in the summer.

Or stay? Neuer is loved at Schalke and the club are bending over backwards to retain his services. Should the keeper give another two years to the club that brought him through before leaving for pastures new?

Time will tell.

 

 

Schalke threaten Bayern
Legal action if keeper has agreed deal

Schalke have threatened legal action against Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, if it transpires they already have an agreement with their star Manuel Neuer.

The German international goalkeeper has 18 months left on his current deal and he has now revealed that he will not be penning a new deal during the forthcoming winter break.

Speculation is growing that Bayern have lined-up a deal for Neuer to replace their current veteran number one Hans-Jorg Butt.

"If an agreement does exist between Manuel Neuer and Uli Hoeness (the Bayern Munichpresident), that would be a serious and illegal matter," Schalke president Clemens Tonnies declared.

"If that was the case then we would take action."

Schalke coach Felix Magath has insisted that he fully expected Neuer to see out his contract, but the keeper himself admitted he could not guarantee that.

"I cannot say the same thing," said Neuer, referring to Magath's claim.

"There are always two sides to every story.

"There will be no present for the supporters before Christmas.

"I will not give in to pressure."