Van Gaal eyes end to saga

Ribery: Set to meet with Van Gaal

Related links

Teams

• Bayern Munich
• Real Madrid

Players

• Franck Ribery

Also see

• Bundesliga fixtures
• Bundesliga table
• Bundesliga stats

Louis van Gaal has called for an end to the Franck Ribery transfer saga as he fears it could disrupt preparations for the upcoming season.

The Dutchman was officially unveiled as Bayern Munich boss on Wednesday and immediately declared that he wanted the winger to remain at the club.

The 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from free spending Real Madrid this summer but so far Bayern have stood firm insisting the Frenchman is not for sale.

However that could be about to change with Ribery, who shares the same agent as Real advisor Zinedine Zidane, revealing that he wanted to join the Spanish giants earlier in the week.

"The rumours are not good for Franck, not good for Bayern Munich and not good for me," Van Gaal told Bild.

"It must be resolved quickly. We must solve the problem but it is not that simple. There are factors involved, not least the money."

Van Gaal confirmed he would soon be meeting with the player to discuss his future but was open to the idea of being able to recruit a number of players with the money that would be made available by the sale of the former Marseille man.

Replacements

"He wants to go, if reports are correct," he added. "I need to speak to him about it.

"It could be that we sign another player. If we sell Ribery then we will have enough money."

However the former AZ Alkmaar coach insists he will not be rushing out to sign a goalkeeper despite neither Hans-Jorg Butt or Michael Rensing doing enough to prove they have what it takes to succeed the retired Oliver Kahn last term.

"A good goalkeeper is very important but Jorg Butt and Michael Rensing have made a good impression," he commented.

"A new goalkeeper is not necessarily a priority. It is something I will have to look at in the first two weeks (of pre-season)."