Cologne step up Podolski bid

Striker edges closer to Bayern Munich exit

By Thomas Zocher and Chris Ives   Last updated: 8th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cologne step up Podolski bid

Podolski: Cologne bid

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Cologne look to be making progress in their bid to re-sign Lukas Podolski.

A host of clubs including Hamburg, Roma, Manchester City and Tottenham, are keen on the Germany international, who wants to quit Bayern Munich.

Cologne sold Podolski to Bayern in 2006 and have not been slow in declaring their interest in taking him back.

The striker has admitted he would be willing to move back to his former club and Cologne have now made their move.

Cologne's original offer last week was shunned by Bayern, but chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed that a new bid has been received.

"They have made a new bid and it looks fine," Rummenigge told Tageszeitung.

"There is no big difference any more, though I'm confident this could really happen."

Rummenigge also dampened speculation that Podolski could be part of a swap deal for Hamburg striker Ivica Olic, who will be joining the Bundesliga champions in the summer:

"I don't see any chance of that happening at the moment. The player only wants to join Cologne," he said.