Bayer Leverkusen interested in Michael Ballack

Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen have admitted their interest in signing veteran midfielder Michael Ballack, whose current contract with Chelsea will not be renewed when his deal expires at the end of this month.

11 June 2010, 12:00am

1 min read

Ballack, who is not involved at the World Cup due to injury, previously played for die Werkself from 1999 to 2002 having signed from Kaiserslautern, and it seems that the former Bayern Munich star could finish his career at the club should the notion take him.

“I don't want to make it a secret - when a player like Michael Ballack, with his history with us, is on the market, then we think about him,” Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voeller is quoted as having said by Express newspaper.

“Michael had a great time here and we have remained in contact over the years. We are relaxed about it all, but Michael Ballack is an issue we are dealing with, particularly since he would like to return to Germany.”

There will be stiff competition for the veteran’s signature, with Wolfsburg and even Real Madrid already linked with a move, and former Germany international Voeller has admitted that his side cannot afford to break their budget to sign the 33-year-old. “A transfer would only be possible if the player accepted a pay cut,” he noted.

The Germany midfielder has played over 400 domestic league games in Germany and England, registering over 100 goals