Santa Cruz injury prompts Bayern to look at Podolski

German striker Lukas Podolski celebrates after scoring against Mexico in June 2005. Bayern Munich are poised to step up their interest in Podolski during the winter break following Roque Santa Cruz's injury which will sideline him for six months.

Bayern Munich are poised to step up their interest in FC Cologne's Germany striker Lukas Podolski during the winter break following Roque Santa Cruz's injury which will sideline him for six months.

Paraguayan international Santa Cruz sustained a cruciate ligament injury on Saturday leaving Bayern manager Magath with just three recognised strikers in Roy Makaay, Claudio Pizarro and Paolo Guerrero.

"It will be tight with just three strikers for the second half of the season," Magath told the Kolner Express. "However, we won'tpanic and should be fine until the winter break. Then we will have to look at the situation."

Bayern have made no secret of their desire to sign the exciting Podolski, scorer of 10 goals in 19 internationals for Germany, and general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed talks would be held during the five-week Bundesliga winter break.

"Now we have to consider what action to take during the winter break," said Hoeness.

"We will sit down with Cologne management during that period. Bayern will have five or six German internationals at the 2006 World Cup and one of them is now at Cologne."

Polish-born Podolski, 20, is contracted at Cologne until 2007 and the club have put a 15-million euro price-tag on his head, although Bayern believe they can capture him for as little as one million euros.

"It is a fact that Podolski has a get-out clause in his contract that allows him to leave for one million euros," explained Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Bayern have a history of hoovering up the best talent in Germany and Podolski is expected to be the latest offering.