Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are on the verge of signing Croatia striker Ivica Olic from Hamburg SV for next season.

"We have agreed," general manager Uli Hoeness told Bayern's website (www.fcbayern.de) yesterday. "All that is missing now are the signatures on the contract."

The Olic deal could speed up the departure of striker Lukas Podolski, a regular for Germany but a fringe player at Bayern.

Podolski has also seen United States striker Landon Donovan arrive on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

According to German media reports, Podolski may return to his former club Cologne or join AS Roma.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 4, 2009)