Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed his desire to sign says German captain Michael Ballack at the end of the season.

"I want him (Ballack)," Mourinho told Monday's issue of German daily Bild. "He has said he needs time before making a decision. I respect that. Now it's up to him."

Ballack's contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of the season. The 29-year-old midfielder's agent has said he was very interested in a move to Chelsea.

"For me he's one of the best players in the world," Mourinho, who was in Germany at the weekend, said of Ballack.

"He's very intelligent, tactically very strong and he scores a lot of goals. For me in Europe there's only Frank Lampard who plays at that level. The two would form a dream pair."