Cologne, Germany  - Bundesliga club Cologne have confirmed they plan to bring their long lost son Lukas Podolski back home from Bayern Munich.

Club president Wolfgang Overath and general manager Michael Meier said that Cologne have talked with the relevant parties and are now waiting for a signal from Munich on the future of the Germany striker.

However Meier told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Wednesday a transfer during the forthcoming winter break could be ruled out.

"It's not an issue for this winter. Bayern have decided that he is staying for the time being," he said.

Overath told Cologne's annual members meeting amid thunderous applause Tuesday evening: "We have done our homework and will do everything to bring Lukas back home,"

Podolski, 23, left Cologne for the reigning Bundesliga champions Munich in 2006 for 10 million euros (7.7 million dollars) on a contract until 2010.

But he failed to make a major impact there, has long been unhappy about his role as reserve player and said earlier this week he had told Munich officials he wanted to leave during the winter break.

Munich insist that no player is for sale during the January transfer window and coach Juergen Klinsmann reiterated on Tuesday night that he wants four forwards in the squad.

But Munich president Franz Beckenbauer fuelled speculation that the price-tag for the 60-times capped Podolski is a key factor. A fee of 15 million euros has been mentioned in the media.

"Money is a factor in professional football," Beckenbauer told pay-TV network Premiere on Tuesday night, adding that the Munich board would discuss the issue "if someone offers a sum that our board could like."

Cologne are reportedly talking to local investors to come up with the money for Podolski, who joined Cologne as a 10-year-old in 1995 and was loyal to the club in a second-division season 2005-06. (dpa)