Bayern Munich ready to offload Franck Ribéry to help slash wage bill

Franck Ribéry's Premier League suitors were offered more encouragement last night after the Bayern Munich director of sport, Christian Nerlinger, admitted the Bundesliga club are seeking to cut their wage bill significantly after recruiting heavily last summer. Bayern, who face Fiorentina in the knockout phase of the Champions League next month, have already offloaded four players in this transfer window and are now intent upon reducing the salaries of their remaining playing staff. That will have implications for Ribéry, whose £120,000-a-week contract expires in 2011 and who may be less inclined to remain in Bavaria on reduced terms. "We are going to try to reduce the wages," said Nerlinger. "The wages have gone through the roof and, therefore, we have got to get our message through to the players that a new contract does not necessarily mean a pay rise." The sporting director did add that "every case has to be dealt with individually and according to the market" but, with talks due to open with Ribéry's representatives over a new deal in the next month, the player's future at the club does appear in some doubt. The Bayern president, Uli Hoeness, has stated publicly that the France international will be sold next summer if he does not extend his contract. Chelsea have been long-standing admirers of the midfielder but do not anticipate moving to secure his services this month. Real Madrid and Internazionale expressed an interest last summer. Similarly, the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City would be encouraged by the 26-year-old's potential availability, even with the injury problems the winger has endured this season. Ribéry has made only six Bundesliga appearances this term and missed the start of Bayern's mid-season training camp in Dubai today after his big toes swelled up after a jog on Sunday, requiring both big toenails to be drilled to relieve the pressure. Bayern were heavy spenders in the market last summer, with an outlay of about £60m, but have already offloaded the likes of Luca Toni on loan to Roma, Andreas Ottl and Breno to Nürnberg and Alexander Baumjohann to Schalke this month. Nerlinger added that the club had "reached the limit" as far as new signings were concerned.