MUNICH, Germany, July 19 (UPI) -- German soccer superstar Michael Ballack, 28, is being heavily wooed by English Premier League team Manchester United.
The Manchester Evening News reported that ManU-coach Sir Alex Ferguson wants to negotiate with Ballack and the Bayern officials during the clubs' upcoming trips to Asia.
Both Bayern and ManU will leave for Japan July 27 for a promotional tour and some friendly matches against Asian teams.
Media in England and Germany said ManU wants to pay up to 18 million euros ($21.7 million) for Ballack.
Bayern's manager Dieter Hoeness wants to extend Ballack's contract, which ends next summer, but "not for every price," he told the German online newspaper Netzeitung.
Michael Ballack is Germany's most celebrated soccer player -- he captains its most successful club, Bayern Munich, and the German national team.
