Munich - Bayern Munich are unlikely to sign US striker Landon Donovan after his period on loan ends next month, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has indicated.

"Donovan is an interesting player but if you have players like (Miroslav) Klose, (Luca) Toni and (Ivica) Olic under contract then we believe it's better to have a young player with prospects as a fourth striker," he told the Munich daily tz published Tuesday.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann has been an admirer of 26-year-old Donovan who is on loan from LA Galaxy until March 15.

According to German media reports, Donovan would cost some 8 million euros (10 million dollars) on a permanent signing.

The former Bayer Leverkusen player has appeared four times as a substitute since the winter break, but has yet to score.

Klose and Toni are Bayern's first-choice striker, with Croatia international Olic joining from SV Hamburg at the end of the season. A professional contract has just been given to 19-year-old Thomas Mueller, a striker with the reserve team.

Bayern are releasing Lukas Podolski who joins Cologne at the end of the season. Podolski was not in the squad for last Saturday's trip to Hertha Berlin but is expected to return for the visit of Cologne on Saturday. (dpa)