Last week Ferguson revealed he wants to bring an "experienced midfielder" to Old Trafford before the new season starts and he has been monitoring Ballack, who has just one year remaining on his contract at Bayern Munich.
Ballack is scheduled to sit down with Bayern officials to discuss his future upon his return from holiday on Friday. The German champions are keen to keep him but Ballack is understood to hold doubts on whether he can realise his ambitions in Munich. In a recent interview, he declared he had two remaining targets in football — to win the World Cup with Germany and be victorious in the Champions League. He named United as one of the few clubs he believes capable of challenging in the latter competition every season.
This was regarded in Germany as a "come and get me" message to Old Trafford but so far, despite their interest, United have yet to make a move. Last week Ballack rejected an approach from an Italian club, thought to be Juventus, but the source said the player would view an offer from United with greater enthusiasm. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keen on the midfielder, whose wage demands of about £90,000 per week would be within United’s compass.