Nübel: Bayern Munich tie up deal for Neuer's replacement
According to reports in Germany, the Bavarian giants have agreed a deal with Schalke for 23-year-old Germany under-21 keeper Alexander Nübel.
Bayern Munich have reportedly identified Manuel Neuer’s replacement and have an agreement in place for the signing of Schalke 04’s Germany under-21 international keeper Alexander Nübel.
According to Sport Bild, the perennial Bundesliga champions will continue their policy of hoovering up the best talent in the German top flight in order to strengthen their own hand while simultaneously weakening those of their rivals. In this case, the highly rated Nübel, 23, has been identified as the man to keep the sticks at the Allianz Arena free of bother for the next decade or so as a replacement for the current Germany number one, 33.
Neuer is expected to sign an extension at Bayern to take his current deal, which expires in 2021, up to 2023 but the club are keen to make sure they have his eventual retirement covered by snapping up one of the most promising young stoppers in European football before he is whisked away by the Premier League, Serie A or LaLiga. That is precisely what Bayern did with Neuer, laying out 30 million euros in 2011 to sign the keeper from Schalke.
Nübel to follow Neuer's path with Bayern and Germany
Nübel has reportedly refused an improved contract at the Veltins-Arena after learning of Bayern’s interest and is willing to spend a couple of seasons as Neuer’s understudy before making the position his own. The same route could also open up for the youngster in terms of the national team, with Neuer suggesting he may retire from Germany duty after Euro 2020, paving the way for Nübel’s promotion as number two to Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen.
Nübel was installed as Schalke’s number one halfway through the 2018-19 season in place of Ralf Fährmann and became club captain at the start of the current campaign.