From the Independent:
‘If Manchester United were hoping to recruit Michael Ballack as a replacement for Roy Keane they will have to wait until next summer as the Bayern Munich midfielder is staying put during the January transfer window, his agent said yesterday.
‘The Germany captain's contract expires in the summer and he is due to let the Bundesliga club know at the end of this month whether he is prepared to sign a new, lucrative four-year deal.
‘United, Real Madrid and both Milan clubs are thought to be monitoring the situation and there has been speculation that if Ballack declares his intention to quit, Bayern may decide to sell during the January transfer window.
‘However, the player's agent, Michael Becker, claimed that Ballack had not yet decided where his long-term future lies and insisted he would be going nowhere until after this summer's World Cup.
‘Although no precise date has been set for the meeting at which Ballack will give Bayern his final decision, tantalisingly, Becker did admit that the midfielder may offer an indication about his preferred destination at the same time.’