Ballack denies Chelsea move is signed and sealed

Michael Ballack may be Chelsea-bound - but not just yet. The Bayern Munich midfielder yesterday denied reports he has already agreed a move to Stamford Bridge.

The German public broadcaster, ZDF, reported on Wednesday that the 29-year-old had agreed a four-year deal with the Premiership champions and claimed all that was left was for the Germany captain to put pen to paper.

Although Ballack has already admitted he is in "serious negotiations" with Chelsea, he insisted yesterday that the two parties are yet to reach an agreement. "That is rubbish, it's not true," he told reporters after training with Bayern.

Ballack is out of contract at Bayern this summer and has turned down the offer of a new contract with the Bundesliga side.

The Germany captain's agent also said nothing had been signed by either Chelsea or the player.

"Negotiations are proceeding well and we're extremely optimistic a deal will be done before the start of the World Cup," Michael Becker said. "But it is important to point out that nothing has been signed yet. Ballack signed a four-year deal with Bayern in 2002 and has given 100 per cent during that time - I think he deserves to leave on good terms." Ballack has had one meeting with the Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, and said it went very well.

Bayern have stuttered in the Bundesliga in the last few weeks and seen their lead at the top of the table cut to four points by Hamburg.

Chelsea will play Major League Soccer's All-Star team in Chicago on a pre-season tour of the US in August, the club announced yesterday.

It is Chelsea's third successive pre-season visit to the US where the club, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, has been forging business and sporting links in recent months. "It is ideal preparation," Mourinho said. "This time we will have a very tough game against the best players in the MLS. Last year we played DC United and I was very impressed with the standard."

The match, originally scheduled for 29 July at the Chicago Fire's new stadium in suburban Bridgeview, will be played 5 August to accommodate English league player union rules that require a 30-day break between the World Cup and the start of club training. Four MLS games originally scheduled for 5 August will be moved to the weekend of 29 July.

Chelsea follow Mexican league team Chivas in 2003 and Fulham last year as opponents for the MLS All-Stars, who won both of the encounters.