United offer Ballack record £30m deal
Daniel Taylor
Wednesday November 16, 2005
The Guardian
Manchester United are so determined to sign Michael Ballack that they are
willing to make him the highest-paid player in the Premiership's history, with
an annual salary in excess of £6m.
The package on offer is even more lucrative than the ones Roman Abramovich is
prepared to pay at Chelsea, where Frank Lampard is understood to be the highest
earner on £5m a year. Rio Ferdinand is currently United's best-paid player,
with a £5.5m deal.
Although Ballack, 29, is available on a free transfer, a five-year contract
would cost the club's new owners in excess of £30m, the sort of sum that many
people at Old Trafford had started to suspect was beyond the Glazers' means.
They have not been prodigious spenders since assuming control in June. Their
net expenditure on transfers is only £2m and the wage bill has actually been
reduced. Signing Ballack would be a statement of intent as well as being an
impressive PR coup, albeit one that is unlikely to win over the sizeable
anti-Glazer factions.
United have been convinced since July that the midfielder wants to join them.
After first registering their interest six months ago, United believe they have
a verbal agreement, giving them a head start over Real Madrid and a host of
Italian clubs. A successful conclusion would have repercussions for Roy Keane,
whose contract expires in July, particularly if the Glazers need to reduce the
wage bill.
Didier Zokora, St Etienne's Ivory Coast international, has also been targeted
but it is understood that United's chief scout Jim Lawlor recently informed the
player's agent that Ferguson had other priorities.
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