Bayern are ready to offload Podolski in January, and despite Koln's interest in luring the 23-year-old, club director Michael Meier confessed that they can't meet the player's asking price.

"We want to buy Podolski, but for the moment we can't pay what Bayern are asking for," Meier was quoted as saying by Bild.

According to the German magazine, Koln are ready to offer 7 million Euros, while Bayern want 10 million Euros to complete the deal.

Podolski is all but out of Bayern, after failing to win a regular spot amid competition with striking duo Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose.

The Polish-born hitman started his career at Koln, where he scored 46 goals in 81 goals before joining Bayern in 2006.