The 23-year-old was a star for his country at Euro 2008, where he scored three goals to propel them to the final, but has struggled for regular football at the Allianz Arena.

Tottenham were strongly linked with a move for Podolski after his heroics in Austria and Switzerland, along with Manchester City, but Bayern decided not to cash in.

However, after finding himself down the pecking order in Bavaria, and with David Beckham'sLos Angeles Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan to arrive in January to provide further competition, Podolski is now determined to clinch a move away.

"I have made my mind up that I would like to leave the club in the winter," he told today's Bild newspaper.

"I have already told the management that I want to leave this winter."

Former club Cologne have first option on him, should Bayern decide to accept a transfer request from a player who has scored 31 goals in 60 games for Germany.