FRANKFURT, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich are waiting to see if Newcastle United confirm their interest in Ghana defender Sammy Kuffour before finalising their squad for the second half of the season.

"I heard that Kuffour's agent is in discussions with Newcastle," Bayern's commercial manager Uli Hoeness told the Munich club's website on Monday.

"If these are successful, Newcastle would contact us."

Bayern have already told left back Tobias Rau he can look for another club and they are prepared to let either Kuffour or fellow centre back Thomas Linke join him on the way out.

"We will let just one of the centre backs go, either Kuffour or Linke," Bayern coach Felix Magath said.

The 28-year-old Kuffour joined Bayern in 1993 and has won five league titles and the Champions League with the Bavarians. He and 35-year-old Linke, a former German international, are out of contract at the end of the season.

FC Nuremberg are interested in signing Rau, who will have few chances to play following the return of Bixente Lizarazu.