The move makes sense: United need a goalkeeper with Edwin van der Sar retiring in the summer, and after the match Sir Alex Ferguson said that Neuer was perhaps the "finest" goalkeeper United have ever come up against.

The common perception seemed to be that Neuer was guaranteed to sign for Bayern Munich in the summer - but the goalposts seem to have changed since Tuesday night.

Now Bayern are saying they will not be held to ransom over the Neuer transfer fee - but Schalke are starting to smell the chance to get more cash.

"His value on the transfer market is already very high, I don't know if it can still go up," Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said. "But watching this match, I said to myself, 'Why sell such a player?'"

Bayern chief executive Uli Hoeness said: "We want Manuel, and where there's a will there's a way. But Schalke cannot now demand an astronomical price."

A good few papers, both quality and tabloid, are now linking Neuer with United, with the Daily Star claiming a L24 million bid could seal the deal as Bayern are reportedly not willing to pay over L20m.