Cologne - German Bundesliga club Cologne will not sign Bayern Munich's international striker Lukas Podolski during the winter transfer period.

Cologne manager Michael Meier is quoted in Wednesday's Koelner Stadtanzeiger that there was no chance that Podolski, who started his professional career with Cologne, would return to the club.

"It would be a wonderful Christmas story, but it will not happen," he said.

Meier confirmed that his club had made Bayern an offer and were still interested in signing Podolski, but that they had not increased their offer.

"My offer to Bayern was as high as I could go. If I had gone further, I would have gone beyond the club mandate."

He said that he believed Cologne still had a good chance of securing Podolski's services. "But it could well be that another club comes and says they will take him immediately," he said.

Podolski, who seldom starts for Bayern, has said that he has received several offers from other Bundesliga clubs, but it is known that he is very fond of his former club. (dpa)