'No one can compete with Chelsea,' says Bayern Munich

Last updated : 15 March 2006 By Paul Lagan
Bayern Munich have admitted they cannot keep Michael Ballack at their club.
Ballack, 29, is out of contract in the summer and is expected to sign his £120,000 per week four year deal before the World Cup.

Bayern's commercial manager Uli Hoeness confirmed the German club are resigned to losing their star midfielder.

"If he gets an offer from Chelsea, we cannot come up with a better one," Hoeness told German weekly Sport Bild.

"There is one club in the world we can't fight with and that's Chelsea.

"If Mr Abramovich wants a player, he will always find a solution and yu won't get a chance," Hoeness added.

"I don't have any problems with that. It's his money."

Ballack's agent, Michael Becker, has admitted that the German captain could be a Chelsea player before the beginning of this summer's World Cup in his home country.

Becker said Chelsea were the only club he was talking to about the midfielder.

He is reported to have said: "The transfer window opens in May and the World Cup is coming up. I think there is definitely something happening before the World Cup.

"There is interest from other clubs but Chelsea are the only club we are talking to at the moment."