The Frenchman is one of Europe’s top stars and is reportedly being tracked by top rate clubs Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the latter said to be his preferred destination. Inconsistent reports coming from Germany have led to the biggest transfer saga of the summer, with Real Madrid ready to make yet another substantial offer for one of the world’s best players.

Bayern legend and current club chairman Karl-Heinze Rummenigge has however reiterated that the Bundesliga giants are unwilling to part ways with the 26-year-old. “Franck Ribery is irreplaceable,” he told L’Equipe. “Real Madrid know our position: he is not for sale. “That Franck wants to go to Real is not a surprise. It’s a fascinating club and attractive on a financial level. But Bayern are not a bad club either.

“At our club the doors are solid and very resistant and we’re not going to push up the bidding. The France international joined Bayern from Marseille for €25m in 2007 and has been a revelation in an otherwise disappointing two seasons for the German club, and Rummenigge knows Ribery is key if they are to return to the top of Europe again.

“Ribery figures among the best players of the world. And when you have a player of this quality among the squad you don’t separate. “We want to build around this player who (Bayern coach) Louis van Gaal absolutely wants under his command.”

Meanwhile, striker Luca Toni has revealed he is open to a return to Italy with Inter and AC Milan monitoring his situation. The former Fiorentina poacher has spent two successful seasons in Germany but after netting almost 60 goals in that time the 32-year-old’s future is uncertain.

The arrival of €30m striker Mario Gomez from VfB Stuttgart plus reported interest in Lazio forward Goran Pandev has left the Italian international pondering his future, and he admits Seria A is a likely destination.“I’d like to come back,” he said. “I know there is the crisis that clubs can’t invest so much, but someone looked at me.” “Inter and Milan? There have been talks, but to arrive to a transfer these are not enough.

“I’m not a slave of my salary. Should I not find space at Bayern, I won’t have problems in coming back to Italy also reducing it (his salary). “And it doesn’t seem to me that my season with 18 goals in 35 matches has been so negative.”

Toni was part of Italy’s World Cup winning side of 2006 and remains a part of Marcello Lippi’s set up as they prepare for the defence of their trophy next year, and the 6 ft 5 striker knows he has an important season ahead of him.

“I want to play in the year that will end with the World Cup. I haven’t done a good Confederations Cup, but it hasn’t been nothing better or nothing worse than the others,” he added.

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