Lukas Podolski has rocked Bayern Munich with claims that he is set to leave the club, with a return to former club FC Koln the most likely destination.

 

Podolski has found himself out of favour at the German powerhouse, with the likes of Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni preferred ahead of the 23-year-old. The move seems all the more likely with the arrival of Landon Donovan in January on a short-term loan deal.

Podolski told German press: "I have made my decision and I would like to leave the club in the winter, I have told the club's management that I want to leave in the winter."

However, Munich manager Jurgen Klinsmann ruled out any potential move, stating: "We want to go into the second half of the season with a minimum of four strikers - and Lukas Podolski is one of them.”

Podolski has always struggled to cement a place in the first team at Bayern Munich, despite the appointment of former Germany manager Klinsmann, who picked Podoslki at the 2006 World Cup where the German striker won the Best Young Player award through his performances.

Numerous clubs are said to be interested in the striker, though it seems a return to first club FC Koln is the most likely, should Koln be able to afford his wages.

The news will come as a disappointment to the likes of Everton and Totenham, who were said to be lining up a January move for the talk forward after Bayern Munich General Manager Uli Hoeness confirmed a possible return to Koln by saying: 'We think we can fulfil his wish to go back to Cologne.'