Manuel Neuer to Brighton? The rumour under the microscope | OneFootball

Brighton have been linked with Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a rumour that has gathered pace but looks highly improbable on closer inspection.

Neuer, 40, is a World Cup winner, a two-time Champions League winner and has more than 10 Bundesliga titles. He made nine saves at the Bernabeu in Bayern’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid, drawing lavish praise from Peter Schmeichel and prompting calls to end his Germany retirement for this summer’s World Cup.

He is out of contract this summer after suspending talks last month to assess recovery from a muscle injury. Bayern could still move on and seek a long-term successor, which has long brought Bart Verbruggen into focus. Post-Bernabeu, retirement feels less certain and a move elsewhere cannot be ruled out.

Bayern have tracked Verbruggen for at least two seasons and, at 23, he could anchor their goal for the next 10 years. The knock-on theory is Brighton turning to Neuer if Verbruggen departs, yet Carl Rushworth’s strong season at Coventry City offers an in-house pathway. Would Albion break their wage structure for a 40-year-old with no resale value and block Rushworth?

Claims that Fabian Hurzeler is personally driving a move appear at odds with Brighton’s recruitment model. He featured for Bayern’s reserves while Neuer starred for the first team, a seven-year gap that hardly screams close ties. Hurzeler’s future is also uncertain amid Leverkusen links and a rumoured £13 million release clause.

“I think the Premier League is the place to be at the moment, isn’t it? Most players and managers feel that,” said Alan Smith, speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk.

In reality, any Neuer pursuit would mean smashing wages, risking the Rushworth plan and hinges on whether Neuer prefers a new Bayern deal or retirement. One Bayern supporter called the talk absolute nonsense. File this one under highly unlikely.

Source: WeAreBrighton.com