Rau bound for Bayern

FC Bayern München have secured the transfer of the promising VfL Wolfsburg defender Tobias Rau for next season.

Summer switch
Bayern, who have already signed Argentinian defender Martin Demichelis, have persuaded Rau his future also lies at the Olimpiastadion. Rau, who celebrates his 21st birthday on New Year's Day, confirmed he would be joining the 1. Bundesliga leaders in June. "The challenge of playing for Bayern München and the attraction of the [UEFA] Champions League were two reasons I couldn't resist."

Advice from Effenberg
The German Under-21 international said he had consulted Wolfsburg colleague Stefan Effenberg, a former Bayern favourite, about the move. "Everything he told me about the club was very, very positive," he said. "Next to this, Bayern financial manager Uli Hoeness persuaded me they were really serious about me."

Germany appearance
Rau appeared for the senior Germany side in a charity match played before Christmas for the victims of the flooding in Germany earlier this year. Bayern and Wolfsburg have yet to finalise the terms of the deal for Rau, whose contract with Wolfsburg runs until June 2004.

Left-sided berth
A left-sided defender, Rau looks like being a long-term replacement for French international full-back Bixente Lizarazu, who has announced that next season will probably be his last in Munich.