• Germany captain, now 33, out of contract in June
• ‘I want to play at the highest level for the next two years’

The Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack claims he is ‘relaxed” about his contract situation and admits he is not alone in wondering if he will still be at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Germany international, who will captain his country at the World Cup finals in South Africa, is out of contract this summer, as is his team-mate Joe Cole.

Nicolas Anelka and Deco have deals which expire in June 2011 but Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich has reportedly put all talks over new deals on hold.

Ballack, 33, claims he is not overly concerned amid talk of a move to Internazionale and a reunion with the former Blues manager Jose Mourinho.

“I am very relaxed about the situation,” he told the German newspaper Bild. “It also affects other players. I want to play at the very highest level of football for the next two years.”

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