Cologne target Dardai

Cologne are on the trail of Hertha Berlin's Hungarian midfielder Pal Dardai.

Bundesliga relegation strugglers Cologne are on the trail of Hertha Berlin's Hungarian midfielder Pal Dardai.

The 29-year-old currently has 18 months left on his contract and has become frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities in recent weeks.

"I simply don't know why I'm dropped if I play well," he said: "I play well each week and almost everyone praises me, but I am left out of the line-up."

On the news of Cologne's interest he stated: "The club officials have contacted my agent and told him they had been watching me for a long time and had liked what they had seen.

"I feel very good in Berlin with my family, we like the city but as a professional footballer I have to consider other reasons too.

"My future is up to the club because I am contracted to Hertha until the end of next season, but I have to admit, if I found a team where I got regular first team football and I would be sidelined only when playing bad, then I'd think about a club change."

Dardai has been capped 42 times by Hungary and would join up with compatriot Imre Szabics if he moves to the Goats.

Cologne dropped into the Bundesliga relegation zone just before the season's winter break and are currently two points off safety.