Hamburg - Bayern Munich and Manchester United still aim to lure goalkeeper Manuel Neuer away from Schalke 04 despite the veto of coach and sports director Felix Magath.

Britain's Daily Mail said on Monday that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson "is believed to have settled on Manuel Neuer as his prime target" to replace Edwin van der Sar next season at Old Trafford once the veteran Dutchman retires.

However, the paper also said that it will take a huge effort to get the 23-year-old Germany goalkeeper Neuer, who was born in Schalke's home town of Gelsenkirchen and has been a club member since the age of five.

Munich already know about Schalke's resistance to let Neuer go as they were snubbed last summer.

General manager Uli Hoeness said on Sunday night that Neuer would be an issue again next year, but dismissed speculation about a winter break deal.

Magath, however, has said on several occasions that the under-21 European champion and fan icon Neuer is the only Schalke player not for sale, despite Schalke's big financial problems.

"He was born and raised here, and, right up to the time he started playing for us, he queued up to sit in the stands and cheer the team on. He is a total darling of the Schalke crowd, and if ever we sold him, we would be ripping the heart out of this club," the Daily Mail quoted Magath as saying. (dpa)