Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed Philipp Lahm to become the German champions' sporting director when he ends his playing career.
Bayern captain Lahm, 33, suggested last week that he could retire at the end of this season -- a year ahead of schedule.
Bayern have been without a sporting director since Matthias Sammer left the position due to health reasons on the eve of the new season but Rummenigge said Bayern's longest-serving player would make an ideal candidate for the role.
"I can definitely see a case for the next sporting director being a member of the current team," he told Sky Sport News. "Philipp Lahm for example. Philipp is an important player and a very good captain, who's developed himself very well as a person away from football.
"He alone has to decide when to end his playing career and we will discuss this subject when he retires."
Rummenigge also said he is in talks with a number of players in order to keep them in Bavaria beyond their current contracts.
Xabi Alonso, Holger Badstuber, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery's present deals all expire at the end of this season, while Robert Lewandowski is reportedly on the verge of signing a contract extension beyond 2019.
"We are in talks with all of them. When there's an announcement to be made, that's what we will do," he said. "I believe that every player, if they have the choice, are inclined to stay at Bayern Munich. That's speaks in favour of FC Bayern."
"But we will not make a song and dance out of it on Nov. 25 at our Annual General Meeting," he added. "We don't need that at FC Bayern and we won't do that. When the contracts are all signed, we will announce the next day.
"We don't need to rush this and find a solution in the next 24 or 48 hours. Both parties have known each other for so long and treat each other fairly and respectfully. At the end of the day, we will definitely reach an agreement."