BERLIN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Struggling Cologne signed Swiss international striker Marco Streller on loan from fellow Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart for the rest of the season on Wednesday.

Cologne, who replaced sacked Uwe Rapolder with Swiss coach Hanspeter Latour last week, went 12 consecutive league matches without a win before the winter break and are third from bottom of the Bundesliga.

'It was Marco's wish to get as much playing time as possible ahead of the World Cup,' Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt said.

'He sees that chance in Cologne. We've granted that wish and are convinced that his time at Cologne will be good for his development.'

Cologne are also close to making a second loan deal Stuttgart for Croatia defender Boris Zivkovic.

Zivkovic, who previously played for Bayer Leverkusen, is also expected in Cologne by the end of the week but first wanted to clear up some details with Stuttgart officials.

'Boris has not played much lately and came to us with the desire to get some more experience with another club,' said Stuttgart's sporting director Jochen Schneider.

'If he reaches a deal with Cologne, we'll loan him until the end of the season.'