Christoph Daum is set to walk out on Bundesliga side Cologne to return to coach Fenerbahce in Turkey. GettyImages Coach Christoph Daum was at Fenerbahce between 2003 and 2006 Contact between Fenerbahce representatives and Daum was made on Friday with negotiations reported to have taken place in Mallorca, where the coach was on holiday. And Cologne's vice-president Jurgen Glowacz today confirmed to the city's Express newspaper that Daum was no longer the club's coach. Daum took over at Cologne in November 2006, successfully leading them into the Bundesliga in 2008 and keeping them there at the end of what he looked back on as a successful season. "Maybe we even exceeded our expectations," he said recently. "I am happy and proud to have fulfilled the expectations of the fans. We were never once in the relegation zone." However, there was no indication in an interview he gave to the Bild newspaper over a week ago, before he left for Mallorca, that he would not fulfil his contract with the club, which was due to expire next summer. "A place in mid-table was the aim this season and if we manage to equal or better that next year, then we will have taken a step forward," he said. "We know that we are standing before the usually jinxed second year in the Bundesliga and we want to be sure of our place in mid-table. "We were already on the same level as teams like Frankfurt and Hoffenheim this year and now we will be aiming at clubs like Hoffenheim, Bremen, Leverkusen or Dortmund." It now seem, however, that Daum will be aiming at clubs like Galatasaray, Besiktas and Trabzonspor as he prepares to return to Turkey for the third time in his coaching career.
Out-of-favour Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski has agreed to return to his former club Cologne at the end of the season, ending months of speculation over his future.
"I have agreed a deal with Cologne starting from July 1, 2009," the 23-year-old striker said on his personal website.
"I am glad the decision for my future has been taken and all speculation about me is finally over."
No details of the deal were released but Podolski will reportedly cost Cologne 10 million euros, roughly the same fee Bayern paid for him in 2006.
Podolski, who has been a very successful striker for the national team scoring 31 goals in 60 appearances, could not find a regular starting spot at Bayern since signing for the champions.
The recent addition of striker Landon Donovan, on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the signing of Hamburg's Ivica Olic will boost the Bayern attack from next season, making matters worse for Podolski.
He already had to compete with established strikers Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.
"I have had very good discussions with (Cologne coach) Christoph Daum and (Cologne manager) Michael Meier and I am fully convinced of the club's concept. I look forward to this challenge," he added.
The Polish-born striker, voted the best young player at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is adored in Cologne, where he played from his youth until switching to Bayern in a much-hyped move.
Cologne have confirmed for the first time that they are going to try and bring unsettled Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski back to the club this winter.
Cologne have made no secret of their desire to re-sign the Germany international, who made a name for himself before joining Bayern two years ago. And the player would like nothing more than to re-join the team from his home town.
However, he has been told by Bayern bosses that he must stay at the club and coach Jurgen Klinsmann confirmed last night that he needed four strikers for the second half of the season and that Podolski "will have to get used to the situation".
At the same time, Cologne president Wolfgang Overath was telling club members at their Annual General Meeting that they are preparing a bid to sign him.
"We will do everything and that means everything within our means to bring the lad back home," he revealed. "We have been doing our homework."
General manager Michael Meier confirmed that talks "have recently been held between Cologne and Bayern and Cologne and Podolski", setting the wheels in motion on a spectacular winter transfer.
"We are now waiting for a signal," he added.
Cologne have first refusal on Podolski and Bayern have promised to let them know as soon as the player becomes available. That seemed to be the case after they signed Landon Donovan last week, but his arrival will not necessarily open the door to Podolski's departure.
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness recently ruled out any more transfer dealings this winter and said his side are concentrating solely on who to buy or sell next summer.
Klinsmann showed sympathy for Podolski, whose absence from the team sheet against Steaua Bucharest was officially put down to a bad back. "We all feel for him," he said. "I was a striker myself and I know exactly what he is thinking."
Cologne coach Christoph Daum said he will not make a move for striker Lukas Podolski until Bayern Munich gives him the go-ahead. Podolski started his career with Cologne before moving to the Munich giants for 10 million euros in 2006, but he has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular since his arrival. After the end of last season, he has admitted several times that his future may lie elsewhere.
Cologne are ready to take him in again, after he enjoyed an excellent Euro 2008 campaign with Germany, should Bayern wish to sell him, but they are determined to follow the rules. 'As long as there is no clear signal coming from Munich, we will respect the currently valid contracts,' said Daum. 'Munich wanted to sell Podolski to Stuttgart, but he did not want that and said instead 'If I am not required here anymore and they want to sell me, then only to Cologne', and we reacted to that. We spoke about it and said we would be ready for that to happen, but then the signal came from (Bayern chairman) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that they did not want to sell him, and we respect that now. Since such a clear stance has been taken by Munich, then we have to abide by the rules.'
Daum also admitted Podolski's price tag could prove a stumbling block in a deal. 'I was extremely surprised (Bayern offered Podolski to Stuttgart) because I rate the player very highly,' he added. 'We are not able to spend 30million euros yet. But reality begins with a dream.'
