Source: Team_Talk
Leverkusen keen on Ballack swoop
ayer Leverkusen have confirmed their interest in signing Michael Ballack after he was released by Chelsea earlier this week.[LNB] Ballack played for Leverkusen between 1999 and 2002 and was part of the side which reached the Champions League final in 2002, where they were beaten by Real Madrid.[LNB]However, although the Bundesliga club would be interested in bringing Ballack back, they are also realistic about their chances of pulling off what would be a major transfer coup.[LNB]"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," said Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller.[LNB]"Michael had a great time here and we have remained in contact over the years.[LNB]"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."[LNB]Ballack's wages could be the stumbling block to a return to the Bundesliga since only his former employers Bayern Munich can realistically afford the salary he was on at Chelsea.[LNB]But Leverkusen hope Ballack would be willing to compromise.[LNB]"Normally a player like Michael is out of reach for us," admitted Voller in the Express newspaper.[LNB]"A transfer would only be possible if the player accepted a pay cut."[LNB]Schalke and Wolfsburg have also been linked with the 33-year-old Germany captain, who misses the World Cup this summer due to an ankle injury.
