Ballack has long been viewed as one of the most effective central midfielders in Europe and, with his contract due to expire next summer, Ferguson knows he could land the 29-year-old on a free transfer.

Bayern are also acutely of the fact, which is why they want a firm decision on where Ballack sees his future before the transfer window opens in January.

Despite offering to make Ballack the highest-paid player in Bayern history, the indications are he will still opt to quit Munich and take up the challenge of a career move elsewhere as so many of his fellow countrymen have done down the years.

Inter Milan and Real Madrid are also thought to be interested in acquiring his services and, after talks between player and club the day after Bayern defeated Juventus 1-0 in the Champions League, Ballack has promised to declare his intentions by the end of November.

“To be honest he is still completely undecided, and that is why he asked for a few more weeks to come to his decision,” Ballack’s agent Michael Becker told PA Sport.

“We sat down and discussed things with Bayern over lunch last week.

“He asked whether it would be okay if he let Bayern know before the end of November and they said yes.

“He has always said his goal is to win the Champions League, and that will be essential to his decision.”

Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer and chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - both of whom left Germany to play elsewhere during their own careers – have spent the last few weeks attempting to persuade Ballack that Bayern’s chances of succeeding in Europe exceed those of United and Inter in particular.

But if Ferguson is as determined to secure the player as many people think, the added incentive of spending time in a higher-profile competition than the Bundesliga may be a crucial bargaining tool.