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Bochum boss wants Bayern hot-shot Podolski
BERLIN (AFP) - VfL Bochum boss Marcel Koller wants to launch an audacious bid to sign talented German international striker Lukas Podolski from German giants Bayern Munich on loan, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old, voted the best young player at last year's World Cup, is recovering from knee surgery, which has kept him out of Germany's Euro 2008 qualifying matches, and Koller wants to bring him to Bochum.
But in his first season at Bayern after leaving Cologne, Podolski scored just four goals in 22 games and Koller, who coached Podolski at Cologne, wants the striker to boost his attack, especially with Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni set to join Bayern.
"I want to bring Lukas Podolski to Bochum on a year's loan," Koller told German magazine Sports-Bild.
Koller gave Podolski his first taste of senior football as a teenager at Cologne in 2003 when he scored 10 goals in 19 games, the best tally for an 18-year-old.
"I have already told him clearly that with us the door is always open," says Koller, who told Sport-Bild he would even change the team's playing system to suit Podolski.
"If Lukas plays a full season with us, he can regain his self-confidence and warm up for next summer's European Championship," said Koller.
But even with experienced veteran Toni set to join Bayern, Podolski is still keen to work hard to win his place at German giants Bayern.
"If other forwards come, I will concentrate on my game and use their experience to be the best I can be," said the German striker who has scored 22 goals in 38 appearances for his country.
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