Will Ballack come to America?

Now that Chelsea have released Michael Ballack, speculation turns to where the German captain will end up next season.

Right now there appear to be four possible scenarios, laid out below in order of likelihood:

1) Ballack returns to the Bundesliga. He is still a huge star in Germany, obviously, and multiple teams have already been reported to be"keen" to sign the midfielder. Schalke 04, in particular, would be a likely destination. They finished second in the Bundesliga last season, and could offer Champions League action for Ballack. Other possible suitors could be Hamburger SV, who could have the best team of 2000 with Ballack and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and former employer Bayern Munich.

2) Ballack follows the money to the Middle East. Could Ballack snag one of those great first-class seats on Air Emirates and head off to Dubai for a few glass skyscrapers filled with Euros? Rumors have been circulating that Ballack is the target of multiple teams in Dubai, and UK newspaper The Guardian has even suggested that he would play for Sven-Goran Erikkson when he arrives. The Swede would, I'm sure, find new ways to lose in the desert.

3) Ballack comes to America, paid for by Adidas. Can any MLS team really afford Ballack? Maybe the Seattle Sounders, but they already have the ancient Swede Freddie Ljungberg. Maybe the Red Bulls, but they are set to pay Frenchman Thierry Henry. Perhaps he could wind up with a team that has a salable asset, like perhaps a certain American midfielder who would rather be in Europe, and nurse injuries with David Beckham all year. With both Ballack and Beckham, the Galaxy would be a Ronaldinho or Fabio Cannavaro away from being the New York Cosmos of the MLS.