Bayern in talks to help Borussia Dortmund - Vahid Hashemian to Borussia

Reuters -Indebted German soccer club Borussia Dortmund is talking to Bayern Munich about possible aid, German newspapers said on Wednesday.

Loss-making Borussia, Germany's only listed club, is grappling with the highest debt in the country's soccer history and has set a cost-cutting programme for staff and players.

At just over 2 euros, its shares trade at a fraction of the debut price of 11 euros more than four years ago, hit by a 44 percent drop last year when Borussia dived deep into losses. The stock was down 0.5 percent down at 2.04 euros by 1357 GMT.

Newspapers said Bayern, the Bundesliga's most successful club and its current leaders, offered help to Borussia, who already face relegation before the second half of the season starts on Saturday.

Borussia President Reinhard Rauball and Managing Director Michael Meier met Bayern managers Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenige in a Duesseldof hotel on Tuesday, Bild newspaper said, with a picture showing the men shaking hands.

Bild said the options discussed included an interest-free loan or lending Bayern players such as defender Samuel Kuffour or striker Vahid Hashemian to Borussia.

"It's a honour for Bayern that they are willing to help us," Rauball told the paper.

"We helped them in the eighties when they were in trouble. I can imagine doing this again," Rummenigge said.

The clubs, which were fierce rivals when Borussia became German champions in 2002, were not available for comment.

Borussia scored their biggest victory in Bayerns' home Olympic stadium in 1997, when the club beat Italy's Juventus 3-1 to win the European Champions League.