Political infighting at Bayern Munich has left the way clear for Manchester United to snap up their top goalkeeping target Manuel Neuer.
Schalke's Germany No 1 seems certain to leave at the end of the season, if not sooner, after heavily criticising his side's 5-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern and claiming they were in danger of being relegated from the Bundesliga.
Bayern and United looked to be shaping up for a straight fight for the 24-year-old, but Sportsmail can reveal that a war of words behind the scenes at the Allianz Arena has left Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson in pole position.
While president Uli Hoeness and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge both strongly favour a move for Neuer, manager Louis Van Gaal is standing up to them and insisting the club stick with 22-year-old prospect Thomas Kraft, who won rave reviews on his Champions' League debut against Roma last week.
As a further encouraging sign for United, locally-born Neuer, who has retained his membership of Schalke's supporters' club, is wary of upsetting a fan base who would prefer him to move abroad rather than to bitter rivals Bayern.
Neuer, under contract until 2012 and valued at around £16million, refused to discuss his future after Saturday's mauling at Kaiserslautern, but said: 'That was a catastrophe and I have no explanation for such a disastrous performance.
'I can understand why the fans were so angry because if we keep playing like that, we will be relegated.'
Ferguson is keen to sign an experienced stopper to take the gloves from Dutchman Edwin van der Sar, who is approaching the end of a brilliant career, having celebrated his 40th birthday last month.
The United manager is already building for the future, after paying Aalesunds £3.5m for Denmark keeper Anders Lingegaard.
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