Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack looks set to be handed a new deal at Stamford Bridge despite his role in the ugly scenes that followed Chelsea's Champions League exit to Barcelona on Wednesday.
The German international, who joined the club from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2006, has agreed a £120,000 per week one-year extension to his current deal which expires this summer.
Ballack, who along with Didier Drogba was among the most vociferous protesters at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo's failure to award Chelsea any one of a number of penalties on Wednesday, could yet face sanctions from Uefa for his part in the protests.
Despite this The Times are reporting that Chelsea have agreed to keep the 32-year-old at the club for another season. Ballack has made 119 appearances for Chelsea scoring 20 goals.