Bayern Munich plan to begin negotiations to sign Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and do not expect to pay an "astronomical price".

The Germany international has long been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena and he recently confirmed that he would not be extending his Schalke contract, which expires next year.

Neuer encapsulated his ability when keeping the scoreline respectable in Schalke's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday night.

United are understood to have scouted the 25-year-old in the past, but Bayern are favourites to complete a deal and the club's president, Uli Hoeness, does not expect to have to offer a high fee due to the player's contract situation.

"We have up until now not had any negotiations," Hoeness told Munich's TZ newspaper. "That will now be addressed. We want Manuel, and where there's a will there's a way.

"But Schalke cannot now demand an astronomical price."

But Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said of Neuer after the defeat to United: "His value on the transfer market is already very high, I don't know if it can still go up.

"But watching this match, I said to myself, 'Why sell such a player?'."