Cologne (Germany), Sep 2 (DPA) German media reported Wednesday that former national football coach Juergen Klinsmann could return to the team in time for the 2010 World Cup.

Bild newspaper said that it is possible that Klinsmann, who coached the hosts to third place at the World Cup in 2006 with present Germany coach Joachim Loew as his assistant, could become a consultant for Loew at the finals in South Africa in 2010.

The German football federation (DFB) refused to comment on the speculation and there are no indications that such a move is imminent.

German manager Oliver Bierhoff merely confirmed in Bild that the DFB had good contacts to Klinsmann. 'Juergen is not under contract to any club at the moment. That is why he can look at a lot of things objectively. He remains an important sparring partner with whom we can address things.

Bierhoff said that they valued Klinsmann's opinion. 'Our contact to Juergen remains very, very close. We always look forward to exchanging ideas and experiences and hear his opinion.'

However, the manager said nothing about formalising the relationship with Klinsmann, who was fired by Bayern Munich in April.