Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has confirmed the club have been offered the chance to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack.
Kenyon told Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that Ballack's agent had approached the Premiership champions with a view to sounding out their interest in the 29-year-old German international.
Ballack's future is now uncertain after the club withdrew their contract offer.
The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season but Manchester United have ruled themselves out of the running for his signature.
Inter Milan and Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the talented player although Bayern have not yet given up on persuading him to remain at the club.
However, Rummenigge revealed Chelsea chairman Peter Kenyon and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had informed him of the approaches from Ballack's agent.
"Ballack has been offered to Real Madrid and Chelsea," admitted Rummenigge.
"I have a good friendship with Florentino Perez of Real Madrid and with Peter Kenyon of Chelsea, and both have informed me of everything that has happened."
