Ballack agent denies move to Chelsea

Michael Ballack's agent dismissed a British newspaper report that the captain of Germany had agreed to join English Premiership champions Chelsea.

Michael Ballack's agent dismissed a British newspaper report that the captain of Germany had agreed to join English Premiership champions Chelsea.

"All this is becoming boring and tiring," agent Michael Becker told the online version of Der Spiegel magazine on Tuesday.

"I can only say that Michael has not signed anywhere."

The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that Chelsea, owned by billionaire Russian Roman Abramovich, had agreed to make the Bayern Munich midfielder the world's highest-paid player.

The report said 29-year-old Ballack would earn 121,000 pounds (177,600 euros, 210,900 dollars) a week at Stamford Bridge once his contract runs out at Bayern at the end of the season.

The newspaper said it understood that Ballack visited London on two separate occasions in January, when he and Becker were impressed by officials from the Premiership leaders, as well as Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

Ballack is available on a free transfer and has been at liberty to talk to other clubs since January after refusing to sign a four-year contract extension at Bayern.

The Mail claimed Chelsea had agreed to delay an announcement on Ballack's capture for as long as possible for fear of placing the midfielder in a difficult position should they clash with Bayern in the latter stages of the Champions League.

According to the tabloid, Mourinho was understood to have nominated Ballack as a potential recruit rather than David Beckham, the highly marketable England captain and Real Madrid midfielder favoured by Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon, who knows him well from his time at Manchester United.

Ballack is one of the highest-profile players contracted to wear the products of German sportswear manufacturer Adidas.

Chelsea are switching their kit supplier from Umbro to Adidas next season in an eight-year deal worth 100 million pounds.

European giants Juventus, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Inter Milan have all been linked with his signature.

Bayern have not given up hope on persuading Ballack to stay at the Allianz Arena but have been growing frustrated at the delay in his decision.

Ballack, who played a key role in Germany's run to the 2002 World Cup final, joined Bayern from Bayer Leverkusen in a 12.9 million euro (15.3 million dollar) deal in July that year.