Cologne general manager Michael Meier claims his club will be given first option on Lukas Podolski as soon as Bayern Munich decide to sell.

Podolski has made no secret of his desire to return to his hometown club of Cologne, but Bayern are yet to sanction a transfer and have repeatedly insisted the Germany international is not allowed to leave.

However, with Bayern now being linked with new strikers, and following yesterday's arrival of Landon Donovan - officially only to keep himself fit during the US Major League close season - Podolski may indeed be allowed to leave this winter.

And Cologne reckon they would be the first club to know about it.

"I have an agreement with (Bayern chairman) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that he will inform me as soon as Bayern are prepared to sell Podolski," he told Sport Bild magazine.

"Only then can we make our offer.

"Podolski has nothing against FC Bayern, but is family is simply not happy in Munich."