Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel has been earmakrked as the man to replace want-away Michael Ballack at Bayern Munich, according to the German club.

With Ballack looking set to leave the German champions in the summer, Bayern have confirmed they are interested in signing Barcelona player van Bommel – but only if the price is right.

“If Barcelona say to us we will sell for two or three million euros, then we will begin discussions. Van Bommel is too old for us to play games,” claimed Bayern sporting director Uli Hoeness in TZ.

The 28-year-old has been unable to force his way into coach Frank Rijkaard’s starting line-up since his move from PSV Eindhoven last summer.

Barcelona are believed to value the player at around €12m but Bayern are unwilling to pay that kind of money for a player who has little resale value.

“We are ready to spend a lot of money on a player of 24 or 25 years. If we are going to invest 20 to 30 million euros in a player, he has to have prospects,” added Hoeness.

Subscribe to World Soccer – The essential football magazine.