BALLACKS

Manchester United are so determined to sign Michael Ballack that they are willing to make him the highest-paid player in the Premiership's history, with an annual salary in excess of £6m.

The package on offer is even more lucrative than the ones Roman Abramovich is prepared to pay at Chelsea, where Frank Lampard is understood to be the highest earner on £5m a year. Rio Ferdinand is currently United's best-paid player, with a £5.5m deal.

Although Ballack, 29, is available on a free transfer, a five-year contract would cost the club's new owners in excess of £30m, the sort of sum that many people at Old Trafford had started to suspect was beyond the Glazers' means.

They have not been prodigious spenders since assuming control in June. Their net expenditure on transfers is only £2m and the wage bill has actually been reduced. Signing Ballack would be a statement of intent as well as being an impressive PR coup, albeit one that is unlikely to win over the sizeable anti-Glazer factions.

Meanwhile, Franz Beckenbauer warns Ballack against a move to OT:.

"Much as I want him to stay, I feel he will probably leave. If he does, the decision only makes sense if he goes to Real Madrid.

“I know United and AC Milan are also in the hunt, but Michael will only be improving himself by going to Madrid. Anywhere else and it will not be a step up.”

The player’s agent, Michael Becker, on Bayern’s decision to withdraw their offer:

"We are not taken by surprise by this announcement because the decision was discussed with us and agreed with us. Bayern have made it clear the door is still wide open but the offer we were given is no longer on the table.

“It was not rejected by Michael but it was not accepted either. Michael is still undecided but Bayern have informed us they will start looking for a replacement player.”