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Germany: Cologne desperate to keep shooting star Podolski [Mon Sep 12th, 2005]
Berlin (AFP) - FC Cologne are willing to offer their German international striker Lukas Podolski a ten-year contract to stay at the Rhein-Energie Stadium.
The 20-year-old Podolski raised his profile further by scoring a hat-trick in Germany's 4-2 friendly win over South Africa on Wednesday, and Cologne are aware that the big guns are taking an interest.
"You only get a player like him every 30 years, and we are delighted he plays for FC Cologne," club president Wolfgang Overath told Bild daily.
"Lukas can sign on for however many years he wants. If he came to us and wanted to sign for ten years we would do it on the spot."
German champions Bayern Munich have already registered their interest in Podolski, but Cologne put a 20 million euro (US$25 million) price tag on his head.
"Financially we can not compete (with Bayern), but Lukas must recognise that a starting place in a great team is not a foregone conclusion," added Overath.
"Lukas is only 20 and his best will come in six or seven years' time. It would be wonderful for our fans if he had that here at Cologne."
Podolski, born in the Polish city of Gliwice, has scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for Germany and is rapidly becoming the golden boy of German football.
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