Source: Daily_Mail
Michael Ballack top target as Bayer Leverkusen prepare to tempt midfielder home
Signed off in style: Ballack won the Premier League and FA Cup in his final season with Chelsea[LNB]Bayer Leverkusen will do all they can to bring Michael Ballack back to the club eight years after his first spell in North-Rhein Westphalia ended following the most successful season in the club's history. [LNB]Ballack becomes a free agent at the end of the month when his contract with Chelsea expires and several clubs from the Bundesliga have been linked with him. [LNB]But Leverkusen have been keen to make their interest known, with sporting director Rudi Voller declaring the club's intentions on Friday. [LNB]'We know that he has two definite offers and we are now ready to start negotiations,' said their general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser. [LNB]'We will do all we can to bring Ballack back. We are in close contact with him and his agent.'[LNB]Nevertheless, Holzhauser knows his club cannot compete with the wages rivals Wolfsburg or even Hamburg could offer and is therefore hoping Ballack will follow his heart to return to the club he represented from 1999 to 2002 before joining Bayern Munich. [LNB]He finished runner up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in a memorable final year with Leverkusen. [LNB]'If he does come to us, then he is going to have to make sacrifices,' added Holzhauser.[LNB]'We cannot compete with what the others are offering.'[LNB] Chelsea star Florent Malouda admits the pressure is getting to France Benayoun set for Chelsea! Blues close in on £6.5m deal to sign Liverpool starMutu loses long-standing court battle and is ordered to pay Chelsea £14mLEO'S LONDON: Cole needs a good manager to get the best out of himCHELSEA FC
