Chelsea have emerged as the new favourites to sign the Bayern Munich playmaker Michael Ballack, after they offered the midfielder a four-year deal that will make him the best-paid player in the world.

According to a report in today’s Guardian, Ballack and his agent Michael Becker visited London twice in January, when they met Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

The 29-year-old is reported to have been offered £121,000 a week to move to London.

Ballack is believed to have made winning the Champions League his priority, and feels that he is more likely to achieve it at Chelsea rather than Real Madrid, with whom he had been previously linked.

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