Former Germany captain Michael Ballack is drawing closer to signing with Western Sydney Wanderers, picking the Australian A-League newcomers over offers from the Middle East and US, a report said on Thursday. After Sydney FC’s signing of Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero last week, the two-time World Cup star is expected to sign with the Wanderers next week, football website The World Game said. Citing German sources, the site said 2002 World Cup finalist Ballack, who turns 36 next week, has opted for the Australian side in a one-year deal worth in excess of $1 million. “Michael is excited by the prospect of coming to a great city like Sydney and being a part of a new project in an emerging football country,” the site quoted a source as saying. “He has kept himself very fit and obviously the match fitness will come quickly from that. “He will certainly be in Australia for the first game (October 6) and over the next few days the finer details will be sorted out.”