Source: Telegraph
Manchester United linked with Franck Ribery
If confirmed, the approach would appear to pave the way for Cristiano Ronaldo's long-touted move to Real Madrid.
A report in the Guardian claims Munich have received an official approach the France international, who feels he has outgrown the Bundesliga. United scouts are believed to have watched the 26-year-old recently.
Should United's offer be accepted, the move would obliterate the world record transfer fee set when Real Madrid paid Juventus £44m for Zinedine Zidane in 2001. However, it would be dependent on Ronaldo's move to Madrid, which would presumably demand an even higher transfer fee.
Ronaldo's departure would require a significant climb-down from Sir Alex Ferguson, who famously claimed he "wouldn't sell them [Madrid] a virus".
Ferguson has steadfastly refused to budge from that position, although it is widely assumed that Ronaldo's move to Madrid remains a matter of when, not if.
Ribery would be the perfect replacement for Ronaldo, and his performances with Bayern have confirmed his class at the highest level.
He has been outstanding in the Champions League, destroying Sporting Lisbon in Bayern's record 13-1 aggregate victory and leading the fight almost single-handedly against Barcelona.
Last week, Ribery indicated that he would leave Bayern if his team did not qualify for next season's Champions League: "In those circumstances it would indeed be very difficult to stay, that's obvious. That's why the club has to finish at least second."
Bayern are currently second in the league, three points off the leaders VfL Wolfsburg. Only Germany's top two teams are guaranteed places in the Champions League.
