Werder Bremen admitted in the German press on Sunday they are ready to discuss a multi-million euro transfer with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for German international striker Miroslav Klose.
Until now, Bremen have insisted they would not let Klose, the top goal-scorer at last year's World Cup, leave for another German club until his contract expires at the end of June 2008.
But Bremen mananger Klaus Allofs told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag he is open to the possibility of a deal - reported in the German press to be between 12 and 15 million euros - with Bayern Munich for Klose.
"If I get the call, I am not going to hang up, because I want to hear what they have to say to me," said Allofs. "It is necessary to look at the situation as a whole and to make a final judgement that is in the best interests of the club."
But Allofs pointed out that they will only consider offers for Klose he feels are appropriate. "At some point, it will be necessary to stop negotiations and move on, even if Bayern again wants to negotiate."
With Klose reported to be set to join Bayern on a free transfer after his Bremen contract expires next year, it seems just a matter of time before Klose wears the famous red shirt.
"I am convinced Klose will join us on a free transfer in July 2008, perhaps it will be sooner," said Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Klose, 28, has had a dip in form this year, only scoring two goals in the Bundesliga between January and April, and got into hot water with Bremen for meeting Bayern bosses in April behind his club's back. But there has been some doubt in the German press who Klose will play for next season and even German international Torsten Frings pointed out on Saturday that he doubted that "Klose wants to stay in Werder".
Klose has been at Bremen since 2004 and has scored 97 goals in 209 Bundesliga games and was the league's top-scorer in the 2005-06 season. But Bayern are re-building their squad after their worst season in ten years and are set to officially announce the arrival of Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni and are hunting French midfielder Franck Ribéry.