BERLIN, March 23 - Bayern Munich have targeted Mark van Bommel as the
ideal replacement for Michael Ballack and will find out in the next few weeks if
a deal can be done with Barcelona for the Dutch midfielder, chairman Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge said on Thursday.
Bayern face the likely departure of Germany captain and playmaker Ballack,
possibly to English champions Chelsea, and are keen to fill the midfield void
before next season begins. Van Bommel appears to be their first choice.
"He is a player that we like. He is not a number 10, not a pure playmaker who
scores many goals. But he is a midfielder of high quality and, above all, a good
character," Rummenigge told Bayern's website.
Rummenigge said he recalled the Dutchman's spellbinding performance in last
season's Champions League semi-final for PSV Eindhoven against AC Milan.
"Van Bommel quite literally marched ahead with the flag for PSV and almost
alone brought Milan to the brink of defeat," Rummenigge said.
Rummenigge said Bayern wanted a top quality player such as Van Bommel who
showed character on and off the pitch.
"We will find out from his manager and Barcelona if there is a fundamental
willingness and a chance that he will move to Bayern. We will look into that in
the coming weeks and see," Rummenigge said.
Van Bommel, 28, joined Spanish champions Barcelona at the start of the season
with a contract until 2008, but has failed to establish a place in the starting
lineup.
Rummenigge also mentioned German midfielder Tim Borowski, now with Werder
Bremen, as another possible successor for Ballack. Bayern are looking for three
or four new buys, but he said any transfer would be capped at around 20 million
euros ($24.13 million).
Bayern paid a club record 19 million euros in 2003 for Dutch striker Roy
Makaay.
"We will certainly not be paying 50 million or more for a player... Bayern
could afford a sum below 20 million without risk," Rummenigge said.