"Cologne needs an image and that should be Lukas," Michael Meier was quoted as saying by ESPN on Wednesday.

"The deal is certainly on the way. Bayern ruined this great story with Lukas and Cologne back then, but now the time has come to move it on."

Podolski came through Cologne's youth ranks before joining Bavarian giants Bayern in 2006.

His career at Bayern took a back seat to the team's preferred partnership of Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.

The 23-year-old, who excelled with Germany in EURO 2008, voiced his desire to leave Bayern more than once as he seeks to play regular first-team football.