Bayern scouts have watched pint-sized Deco, 26, inspire Porto to the Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Deportivo La Coruna, and Hitzfeld is now preparing to test the club's resolve to hang onto their playmaker.

"Deco is a player on our wish list," Hitzfeld told Kicker magazine. "We are watching him but have not made a concrete move yet."

Recruiting Deco will not be cheap with his stock raised after a sterling performance in Porto's UEFA Cup win over Celtic last season and some stellar displays in the Champions League this term.

Deco, real name Anderson Luis de Souza, was born in Brazil but will play for hosts Portugal in the 2004 European championships.