Bayern boss Hoeness: Already forming the team for 2002

The club has around 50 million dollars to spend on new players, with ten members of the present squad over 30 - including top performers like playmaker Stefan Effenberg, goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, French defender Bixente Lizarazu and midfielder Mehmet Scholl.

The big problem, according to coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, remains acquiring good defenders. "Barcelona have been looking in vain for ages," he said, "as have all the big clubs."

Scouring the market had so far produced only one purchase for the immediate future: Stuttgart defensive midfielder Pablo Thiam, who is due to join next season.

Croatian brothers Robert and Niko Kovac were also being signed from Bayer Leverkusen and SV Hamburg respectively, but probably not until the season after.

Hitzfeld meanwhile made plain that he is not up for grabs by any of the Italian, English or Spanish sides said to be keen on signing him - repüortedly including Manchester United and Real Madrid.

"I don't think I'll be moving anywhere abroad," said the 52-year- old who is hoping to guide Bayern to their first European Champions' Cup win since the mid-1970s after leading Dortmund there in 1997.

"I've had offers from Italy, Spain and England," Hitzfeld confirmed, but without naming the clubs involved. Hitzfeld recently extended his contract with Bayern until the end of June 2004.

"I feel honoured to have my name mentioned in this context," he said, "but I'll be fulfilling my contract here."

(bb/dpa)