Asked whether he could do the job, Matthaeus, who has been coach at Austria's Red Bull Salzburg since May, told Thursday's edition of German newspaper Bild: "Of course."

"I am a Bundesliga insider and especially of Bayern," he added. "And it must be clear to whoever looks at my life up to now: my goal has to be the Bundesliga." Bayern, currently fourth in Germany's top league and 11 points behind leaders Schalke 04, sacked Felix Magath at the end of last month and appointed former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld until the end of the season.

Matthaeus told Bild that Bayern should concentrate for now on regaining stability and beating Real Madrid, their next opponents in the Champions League.

But he said that if Bayern offered him the coaching job he would be prepared to negotiate a solution that was beneficial to all.

"I am convinced Lothar will have a great career and he'll one day be Bayern coach," the newspaper quoted Hitzfeld as saying.