The Times:
Michael Ballack, the Germany midfield player, will tell Bayern Munich today that he is not ready to commit himself to a new contract, increasing Manchester United’s confidence of signing him on a free transfer when his deal expires at the end of the season.
United officials have confirmed that Ballack is at the top of their wanted list, regardless of whether Roy Keane carries out his threat to leave Old Trafford next summer, with the board understood to be drafting a contract offer to put to him and his agent, Michael Becker, as soon as they are free to open negotiations on January 1.
Bayern hoped that their offer of a lucrative new four-year deal would secure his services before that date, but the 29-year-old said before last night’s Champions League match against Juventus that his meeting today with Bayern’s management would not bring a decision on his future. "I want to keep my options open and I think Bayern understand that," Ballack said. "I have not made a decision yet."
United know that they will face competition for Ballack’s signature, possibly from some of their Barclays Premiership rivals as well as the usual suspects in Italy and Spain, but they are hoping that their interest, which they have been happy to make public without anyone from the club having gone on record, will be enough to entice him to Old Trafford. They will also hope that he is willing to drop his wage demands from a reported £120,000 a week.
Bayern have previously expressed optimism that Ballack would stay — and were believed to be so confident that they were prepared to wait until next summer’s World Cup finals in Germany — but their defiance has weakened considerably over the past fortnight. Uli Hoeness, the deputy chairman, has stated that the club would be wrong to jeopardise their financial future for the sake of one player, while Felix Magath, the coach, has said: "I am not worried that Michael may be ready to go, but I just want the decision made."
Silvestre:
"We are only looking for someone in the midfield now.
"That is to say, to replace, little by little, Roy Keane. He can hardly play every three days now. The club was following (Michael) Essien, but he became too expensive."