Football United

Hamburger SV coach Thomas Doll believes the mooted signing of Lukas Podolski would be a huge step forward for the Red Shorts.

The 20-year-old Köln striker is the hottest property in German football and has been linked with a move to the Hamburg Arena. Doll told the club's official Web site: "It would be great if we could sign such a player. It would be a further signal following the signing of Rafael van der Vaart. Lukas is a regular in the German national team and I think it is a positive thing when his name is being discussed in Hamburg."

HSV face competition from champions Bayern Munich and Podolski's current club Köln for the signature of the striker who is contracted to his home-town club until 2008.

HSV currently lie second in the Bundesliga table as the German game enters the winter break.

Source: goal.com