Ballack returns to contract negotiations at Bayern Munich

By Klaus Bergmann Jul 18, 2005, 14:55 GMT

Munich - Michael Ballack returns to training with Bayern Munich Wednesday with discussions about his longterm future at the club a priority for the Bundesliga champions.

The German international midfielder has just one year left on his contract at Bayern and, unless a deal is struck, would be able to leave the club at the end on of the 2006 season on a free transfer.

"We haven't opened up concrete negotiations yet," admitted Ballack's advisor Michael on Monday.

Becker will fly out to Tokyo Tuesday with the Bayern team as the club embarks on a pre-season tour of Asia and has refused to rule out movement on Ballack's contract while there.

Ballack was given three weeks' vacation by his club following the 28-year-old's participation with Germany at the Confederations Cup in June and hopes the upcoming season will be crowned by a Champions League and World Cup title.

"If Ballack doesn't extend (his contract), we'll just have to look around," admitted coach Felix Magath. "This is why we need a decision soon not early next year."

Club manager Uli Hoeness has indicated that he wanted to offer the German captain "market prices", which has been taken as positive by Ballack's negotiators.

It has been reported that Bayern will offer to nearly double Ballack's annual salary to 10 million euros, making him by far the best paid footballer in the Bundesliga.

If Ballack does sign a new deal, he would receive his new improved wages from the start of this season.

Bayern are keen to do business as the club is acutely aware that it wouldn't be cheap to find a replacement for Ballack.

French international Patrick Vieira moved to Juventus from Arsenal for 20.6 million euros last week on a five-year deal worth at least 50 million and finding a replacement for a player of Ballack's calibre would probably cost Bayern a similar amount.

Should Ballack decide that he wishes to leave Bayern at the end of the 2005/2006 season, then the club may decide to sell him now for a cut-down price and at least receive some transfer fee.