Hamburg join hunt for Podolski

Hamburg have joined the hunt to sign young Germany striker Lukas Podolski at the end of the season, according to media reports.

"We have met Podolski, said that we would love to have him and told him about the prospects here," Hamburg's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer said.

Podolski, 20, burst into Juergen Klinsmann's Germany side in June 2004 and has scored 10 goals in 20 appearances, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory over South Africa.

Hamburg will likely face a battle with Bayern Munich and other clubs. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the German champions and league leaders want Podolski from next season.

"We have enough sporting class to make it worthwhile for Podolski to consider what is the right step for him," Beiersdorfer said.

The Polish-born striker might consider Hamburg a better club to join than Bayern as he would be a guaranteed starter rather than fighting for a place with Bayern's Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro.

Hamburg are second in the Bundesliga, six points behind Bayern.

Podolski's club Cologne offered him a new five-year contract worth 2 million euros a year in September. His current deal runs until 2008.