Bayern chairman: Neuer talks ´constructive´

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has moved a step closer to joining Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich after ‘constructive talks’ between club officials.

Neuer, 25, has already announced his intention to leave boyhood club Schalke at the end of the season.

The Germany international had been linked with a move to join English Premier League leaders Manchester United, but the player has insisted his preferred destination is Bayern.

The Bavarian giants were reportedly struggling to match Schalke’s valuation of the shot-stopper, with newspaper Bild claiming a fee of close to 25 million euros would be necessary to secure Neuer’s services.

But according to Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, talks held with Schalke’s director of sport Horst Heldt and board member Peter Peters on Tuesday were productive.

“It was a very constructive and fair talk,” Rummenigge told Munich’s Tz newspaper. “We now have a basis to work on.”

“I have always said that it would not be easy to find a price that both sides can accept in the end, but after this meeting, I am cautiously optimistic that we have found a price.”

“It is now up to our colleagues from Schalke to discuss it with their board.”