Magath hopes rumoured Manchester United target Ballack will stay

Jul 19, 2005, 14:45 GMT

Bonn - Bayern Munich are not prepared to let playmaker Michael Ballack, rumoured to be a target of Manchester United, leave the club now and are instead looking to renew his contract beyond 2006, coach Felix Magath said on Tuesday.

"I want to work and fulfil my goals with the full squad which will be complete tomorrow (Wednesday)," Magath said at Munich's pre-season training camp in Bonn.

"I would be happy if Michael leads the team beyond 2006," he added.

The Germany captain Ballack, 28, came to Munich in 2002 from Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year contract.

Manchester United have allegedly offered 18 million euros for the midfielder and are reported to be seeking a top-level meeting next week when both teams visit Japan.

Munich would get nothing if Ballack decides to leave next year when his contract runs out.

Munich want to renew the contract, but manager Uli Hoeness said late Monday that they were not willing to massively raise his salary.

"Success on the pitch must go hand in hand with economic reason. There may be a situation in which we simply have to say 'no'", Hoeness said.

But Hoeness dismissed speculation of a 10-million euro salary, saying that "no one really believes that he earns more than in the range four million euros. And we are to spend more than double that amount?"

Ballack was given three weeks' vacation by his club following the his participation with Germany and returns to training with the club Wednesday.