Germany captain Michael Ballack is set to sign a one-year contract extension which will keep him at Premier League side Chelsea until 2011, German daily Bild claimed Thursday.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who last June extended his contract by a year, has told club bosses in London that he sees himself playing until 2012 and will have the option of a further year’s extension, Bild reported.
The German daily say Ballack has also told Germany coach Joachim Loew that he intends playing on after this June’s World Cup in South Africa, where Germany are one of the favourites.
Having scored 48 goals in 98 appearances for the national side, Ballack is set to reach the 100 caps mark this season and wants to play on until at least the European Championships which will be held in Poland and Ukraine in 2012.
Having joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in 2006, Ballack has scored 16 times and was on the losing side of the Champions League final in 2008.
