Cologne eye Bayern kids

According to a report in Express, Cologne boss Wolfgang Overath has already held talks with Bayern executives Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge with a view to signing several members of the Bavarian giants' amateur team for the coming season.

The Goats look doomed to relegation after Saturday's 3-0 loss in Freiburg and Overath now appears to be looking to sign some talented youngsters as a springboard to a brighter future at the RheinEnergie Stadion.

Bayern's amateur coach Hermann Gerland told Express that he would not oppose some of his best players leaving to gain experience at first team level.

"Of course I'm always thinking about my club and my team, but it is vital for the young players to get match practice at the highest level possible and not just become player number 17 or 18 in Bayern's first team squad," Gerland said.

No information has been released as to which players could be making their way to Cologne although defender Christan Lell, Peruvian striker Jose Guerrero and German Under-21 star Piotr Trochowski (pictured) are all thought likely to be high on Overath's shopping list.