Bayern Munich have agreed a fee with Manchester United for England international Owen Hargreaves.

According to media reports, the German giants will receive around £17m for the midfielder.

This would be a record fee for a Bundesliga player.

Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer told German TV: "Owen is leaving. That was the player's wish. It's a good match and it's also a good deal financially."

Hargreaves is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Premiership champions.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich: "Owen is one of the best holding midfielders in the world. It weakens us from a sporting point of view."

The 26-year-old arrived at Bayern from Canada in 1997 and was groomed in the club's junior side, before making his league debut in August 2000.

He has made 144 league appearances for Bayern, scoring five goals, with a further 43 games in the Champions League and 22 in the German Cup.

But Hargreaves started only nine league games for Bayern this season because of a fractured shin bone and inflamed knee.

His reputation and value soared after a number of excellent performances at last summer's World Cup in Germany.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said he was upset to be losing the versatile midfielder.

"A player like Owen Hargreaves would have fitted well in our team for the new season," Rummenigge told the club's website.

"Owen is one of the best holding midfielders in the world. It weakens us from a sporting point of view."

Newspaper reports have linked Bayern with a shock swoop for Chelsea and Holland winger Arjen Robben.

According to the Daily Mirror, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will also make summer moves for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, Sporting Lisbon winger Nani and Southampton defender Gareth Bale.

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