Hamburg - Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are seeking to sign Ukrainian midfielder Anatoly Timoschuk from Zenit St Petersburg and are ready to release frustrated forward Lukas Podolski, general manager Uli Hoeness said.

Hoeness, who met Timoschuk for talks in Munich on Sunday, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Monday that Timoschuk was a possible signing for next season.

"We had informational talks on a possible transfer from July 1, 2009," Hoeness said.

According to unconfirmed reports, Bayern would have to pay 14 million euros (17.67 million dollars) for Timoschuk, 29, under the terms of an opt-out clause in his contract.

Russia's Sport Express newspaper reported Monday that Timoschuk has asked for time to consider a move.

Timoschuk is being lined up as a possible replacement in defensive midfield for Dutchman Mark van Bommel or Brazilian Ze Roberto whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

Meanwhile the departure of Podolski - either in the winter break or at the end of the season - was looking more likely.

"I can well imagine him will leave us after the end of the season," Hoeness told ARD television on Sunday night.

But he also said "we will be ready to talk if we can find a replacement," which fuelled further speculation in the German media on Monday that the Germany striker could be heading home to Cologne as early as during the winter break.

Podolski, 23, came to Munich in 2006 from Cologne but never lived up to expectations. He has long been homesick despite a contract in Munich until 2010.

Bild named the transfer fee at 10 million euros, the same sum Munich originally spent for the 60-times capped player.

"There is an agreement between Bayern and myself. I stick to that. If the situation changes there will be a suitable solution for both sides," Podolski told Bild.

Bild said that part of a deal could be Cologne offering Munich a special option for their talented Brazilian central defender Pedro Geromel. (dpa)