Hitzfeld Pours Cold Water On Podolski Rumours

Reds manager Uli Hoeneß sent both the German and English rumour mills spinning by suggesting that the under-utilised star may be sent out on loan in order to solidify his spot in the national team ahead of the European Championship. The Bavarian super-club's coach was clearly on a different page, however.

"We only have four strikers and we all know how quickly accidents can happen," said HItzfeld after Monday's team training. "I am reckoning with having this same squad at my disposal once the season restarts.
Hitzfeld's assistant coach was even more dismissive when confronted with the rumours, insisting that a loan move for Podolski was "not a topic".

"We need Lukas. He is a very important player for us," was Michael Henke's reaction to the press.

The player himself was not available for comment as he was forced to sit out training due to a niggling back problem.

What is clear is that Podolski remains third-choice at Bayern with Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni ahead of him in the pecking order, and with Euro 2008 rapidly approaching, the youngster will want as much first-team action as possible.

The Bench Beckons For Podolski Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski looks set to have to remain satisfied with a place on the bench after trainer Ott

Hitzfeld has declared himself pleased with the Klose-Toni partnership in the first half of the season, and confirmed they will remain the two starters when the season gets back underway in February.

“Miro Klose and Luca Toni played well together, so they will start up front unless something unusual happens” explained Hitzfeld.

The ‘General’ said that whether Podolski or Jan Schlaudraff got a chance would “depend on the situation.”

Podolski has already voiced his concern that he would be unhappy with a permanent role as back-up to Klose and Toni.

“If the second half of the season pans out like the first, then I’d have to consider where my future lies” he admitted.

The 22 year old has a contract until 2010, but clubs such as Werder Bremen, Stuttgart and Manchester City have already shown an interest in the German international striker.

With Roy Makaay leaving the Allianz Arena in the summer for similar reasons and enjoying a profitable time with Feyenoord, Podolski will be more than aware that at his age he cannot continue to warm the bench at Bayern indefinitely playing second fiddle to Klose and Toni.

Lell Slapped With €100,000 Police Fine Christian Lell has been handed a whopping €100,000 fine after a drunken altercation with police last February

Christian Lell will have an unwanted present waiting for him when he returns home from Bayern's training camp in Marbella: a court fine of at least €100,000.

The defender was involved in a heated argument with his then girlfriend by his car following a night out in a Munich club in February of last year.

As police arrived at the scene Lell is alleged to have kicked them and called them something beginning with 'W'. He was also found to have alcohol in his system above the legal driving limit.

Courts in the city have now decided to fine the 23-year-old for his actions. "It's a punishment for resistance against police officials and offensive language," commented state prosecutor Anton Winkler to Bild. Charges of bodily harm have been dropped.

Asked about the fine from Bayern's camp in Spain, Lell only commented that he hadn't heard anything about it, but Bild claims the punishment consists of 80 days' wages. The newspaper therefore estimates that the player's net earnings are around €1250 per day, just short of €9000 a week.

Hitzfeld Finished With Club Management Outgoing Bayern Munich trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld has revealed that he will not coach another club side after he

With Jürgen Klinsmann set to succeed Hitzfeld at the end of the current campaign the 59 year old has told German TV station ARD that he will be making a final decision about his long-term future by the end of March.

"First of all I have to decide whether I will continue as a coach or not.

"But I will definitely not go to a club, only to an association where I will have fewer games” he revealed.

During two spells at Bayern, the ‘General’ has won the league four times, the German Cup twice and the Champions League.

He has long been linked with the Swiss national trainer’s job when it becomes vacant after this summer’s European Championships.

The other option for him is to become a TV pundit, which he says would “mean less stress.”

Whatever his final decision, we will have seen the last of one of Germany’s most successful club trainers.

Van Buyten Ready To Join Celtic On Loan Bayern Munich's Daniel van Buyten would consider a loan move to Scottish champions Celtic, stating: "Scotland

Daniel van Buyten, 29, the Belgian defender who is currently out of favour at Bayern Munich, is a transfer target for Celtic manager Gordon Strachan - and has indicated that he would be amenable to a move.

Van Buyten is due to hold talks with Bayern this week, but as coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will be leaving in the summer, to be replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann, the Bavarian club may only be prepared to consider a loan deal - unless Celtic match Bayern's reported valuation for the player of £4million.

Van Buyten told the Scottish Sun: "Celtic is one of my options.

"I have not spoken with them but I know their coach has asked for details about me.

"Scotland is a fabulous country for football and the atmosphere is great.

"I arrived at Bayern with great hopes. My objective was to win a fight to win a place in the team and play in every match.

"Unfortunately, this has not been possible and I am unhappy about the situation.

"I'm working very hard every day but the coach doesn't seem to have confidence in me.

"After I speak with Bayern I will know my future but I will discount nothing.

"There's also interested clubs in England but the final decision is down to Bayern."

Bayern To Grab Borowski On Bosman Werder Bremen midfielder Tim Borowski is set to join Bayern Munich when his contract runs out at the end of this se

Werder Bremen released a statement on Sunday confirming that Borowski had rejected their latest offer of an extension to his current deal at the Weserstadion.

Bremen boss Thomas Schaaf spoke briefly but poignantly on the subject following the confirmation of the news.

"It's a shame," he said. "We would have happily carried on working with Tim."

The announcement comes soon after Bayern revealed Jürgen Klinsmann would be taking over from Ottmar Hitzfeld as manager at the end of the season.

A legendary manager, then, being replaced by a legendary player. It is thought Klinsmann's prospective appointment may have influenced Borowski's eventual decision to walk out on his first and only professional club to date, as it was Klinsmann who led an under pressure Germany team, of which Borowski was part, to the World Cup semi finals on home soil 2006.

It is unclear whether Klinsmann himself had any influence in the signing of the dominating midfielder, though he will no doubt play an important role in what is looking an increasingly strong midfield unit at the Allianz Arena.

Borowski, 27, has been capped 31 times by Germany, scoring twice.

Vogts: Klinsmann Destined For Bayern CL Win Ex-Germany coach Berti Vogts has tipped new Bayern Munich boss Jürgen Klinsmann for great success...

New FC Bayern München boss Jürgen Klinsmann has been tipped for the top by Berti Vogts.

The former Germany manager, who is about to lead Nigeria in the Cup of African Nations, told Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung, "Bayern Munich will win the next two editions of the Champions League.

"He'll continue to do the work that he began with the DFB [German FA]."

Klinsmann is under presure to lead Bayern to their first Champions League win since 2001 when he takes over from the outbound Ottmar Hitzfeld this summer.

The 43-year-old former Inter striker has been out of management since stepping down from the Nationalelf post following a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup.