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| Ballack e Schweinsteiger |
Chelsea hoping to pip Manchester United to 'new Michael Ballack'
The Premier League champions hope to capitalise on an act of deja vu
Chelsea are aiming to trump rivals Manchester United by convincing Bastian Schweinsteiger to move to London.
The Blues are aiming to persuade the Germany international to shun all offers of a new contract at Bayern Munich, as well as rejecting any overtures from Old Trafford, in order to sign on at Stamford Bridge when his contract expires.
The prospective deal has echoes of the one that lured Michael Ballack to the club in 2006.
Ballack was the lynchpin of both Bayern and the German national team and was being lined up by Sir Alex Ferguson as a transfer target. Instead, Chelsea swooped for his services by signing him on a bosman free transfer, making him the highest paid player at the club in the process.
Schweinsteiger's contract does not expire until the summer of 2012 but Chelsea are willing to wait as they have a fully stocked midfield at present.
