Ballack - who has been staying in the same Tokyo hotel as United and scored twice yesterday to give Bayern a 3-1 win over Jubilo Iwata in the second of two pre-season friendlies - is still in contract dispute with his club. That alerted Fergie but, at first, he suspected the German skipper might just be trying to force more cash out of the Bundesliga giants. Now he is convinced he can land Ballack and the Old Trafford board - who had informal meetings in Japan - have told Fergie they will give him the financial backing.
The row in Portugal with Roy Keane would only have helped Fergie to make up his mind. It is still unclear whether Keane and Ferguson have fully patched up their differences. Keane was left behind when United flew out for their four-match Far East tour and played for the reserves at Walsall yesterday.
Fergie's decision to chase Ballack is another indication that his 33-year-old Irish captain is no longer the force of old.
Fergie is also being kept informed of Michael Owen's situation.
The same paper say that Ballack met some United fans in the airport at Tokyo: "They were bantering Ballack and asking when he was going to Old Trafford. It was all good-natured stuff but he was very diplomatic and just smiled."