Hamburg Hope Billionaire Can Help Them to get Ballack
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Manchester United join race to sign free agent Michael Ballack
Freebie: Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign free agent Michael Ballack
Sir Alex Ferguson has entered the race to sign free agent Michael Ballack after the midfielder's release from Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea.
The Manchester United boss plans to offer the injured Germany captain a one-year contract at Old Trafford with an option of a 12-month extension, according to reports.
With reports suggesting United's American owners are over a £1billion in debt, resources could be thin for Ferguson this summer, who may be forced to scour the free market having already spent £7.5million on Mexican recruit Javier Hernandez.
Ballack, who has never endeared himself to United players and fans in the past, is wanted by a host of elite European clubs with Real Madrid and Tottenham also said to be keen to on the 33-year-old.
But a return to former club Bayer Leverkusen is off the cards for Ballack after the Bundesliga club conceded the player's wage demands would prove too excessive.
Sidelined: Ballack is out of the World Cup with an ankle injury
Werder Bremen have distanced themselves with a move for the same reasons but it is understood new Wolfsburg manager Steve McClaren is interested in a deal.
Missing from the World Cup, Ballack is currently recuperating from an ankle injury he sustained during Chelsea's FA Cup win over Portsmouth last month.
Ballack scored four goals in 38 appearances last term to help the Blues to the title but he was released after snubbing a 12-month
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United go for ballack lol. sure or not? then whats the difference playing ballack or scholes or giggs?
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He's already old, and he's injured to boot.
Sure, the transfer may be free, but the wage demands could prove to be too high.
Unless Ballack is willing to accept Michael Owen-esque wages, I don't quite see the point of getting him.
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So no United fans going to say this is rubbish?
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Hamburg Hope Billionaire Fan Can Help Them Beat Manchester United To Former Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack - Report
Ambitious German side Hamburg have begged a billionaire fan to come up with the cash to beat Manchester United to Michael Ballack's signing, according to Bild.
Ballack, 33, will be a free agent when his current contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the month after four years with the Premier League champions. While injury has ruled him out of captaining Germany at World Cup 2010, he is still high on the list of a number of sides in Europe.
Hamburg plan to lean on billionaire supporter Klaus-Michael Kuehne to provide the cash to meet Ballack's £110,000-a-week wage demands. Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are all reported to have contact the player in recent weeks.