Munich set to land Gomez and Neuer

HAMBURG - Bayern Munich will make use of a special clause to sign VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez for a Bundesliga record 30 million euros ($42 million ), the Bild daily reported Tuesday.

The Sport-Bild weekly, meanwhile, also reported that Munich have told Schalke 04 they want their goalkeeper Manuel Neuner.

Bild said that Gomez, who is officially tied to Stuttgart until 2012, has one clause to leave for a foreign club and another one for a move to Munich, the latter valid only until May 31.

The transfer fee for the 23-year-old Germany striker in each case is 30 million euros.

“We will discuss final details and then formally tell Stuttgart that we will make use of the clause,” Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild.

Rummenigge said that Gomez was worth the record fee: “He is a first-class forward who has scored more than 20 goals over the past three seasons. He is German and he is only turning 24.”

Stuttgart did not allow Gomez to leave for Munich 12 months ago. Since then, foreign clubs have also reportedly become interested in him.

Bild said that Gomez will get a four- or five-year deal in Munich and earn 4 million euros per season.

Gomez, who scored 24 goals in the past season, has not commented on his future but met with his manager on Monday over the issue.

He was due to leave Germany with the national team for friendlies in China Friday and the United Arab Emirates, Monday.

Neuer is also part of the squad and will earn his first cap in Asia. According to Sport-Bild, in a report made available ahead of Wednesday’s publication, the 23-year-old may then leave Schalke for Munich who want a new number one between the posts.

“There is only one interesting goalkeeper for us. That is Manuel Neuer. We have informed Schalke of our interest,” general manager Uli Hoeness told Sport-Bild.

Neuer, 23, is under contract at Schalke until 2012, but the club has made less money than expected in 2008 and could use extra cash of at least 10 million euros to give new coach Felix Magath the new players he wants.

Munich want Neuer because Michael Rensing failed to impress as successor of Oliver Kahn and veteran Hans-Joerg Butt was fielded in the final games of the season.

Munich aim to strengthen their squad after having to settle for second in the league and the quarter-finals in the Champions League in the past season.

They have already signed SV Hamburg forward Ivica Olic, Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Alexander Baumjohann and Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.

Hoeness reiterated in a television interview Monday that Bayern will also do their best to keep French star Franck Ribery who has been linked with Real Madrid.