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29 March 2024

Arsenal deal is far from done - Podolski

FC Cologne's Lukas Podolski goes from the pitch after he gets a red card during their German Bundesliga match against Hertha BSC Berlin in Cologne on Saturday. (REUTERS)

Published
By AFP

Arsenal target Lukas Podolski said his deal to join the Gunners was far from done as he finished a turbulent week by being shown a red card during Cologne's 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

Reports in both the British and German media in mid-week claimed Podolski is poised to join the London club for 13 million euros ($17m) later this year as the Premier League side aim to beef up their attack.

Gunners coach Arsene Wenger said on Friday that the deal was not yet complete, which the Germany star confirmed after he finished the week by seeing red during his team's win in a bad-tempered Bundesliga match.

"Contrary to the reports of the past few days, nothing has been decided yet," Podolski told German Sky Sports.

"If there is something to report, I'll let you know."

Three players were sent off after Cologne midfielder Christian Clemens scored what proved to be the winner in the first half.

Cologne's Croatia midfielder Mato Jajalo was the first player to be shown a red for a foul on Hertha defender Levan Kobiashvili after 66 minutes.

Georgia's Kobiashvili was then sent off for his second yellow card of the game after a tussle with Podolski, who appeared to aim a head-butt in reply.

Although the blow did not connect, referee Guido Winkmann saw fit to dismiss both players, with Podolski receiving a straight red on 76 minutes that left Cologne coach Stale Solbakken fuming.

"The red card was crazy, that was not even a yellow," fumed the Norwegian.

"I do not know how you deal with something like this in Germany, but it was a big mistake and I hope that Lukas is not suspended."

Podolski faces an automatic suspension for next Sunday's game against Hanover, but could receive a longer ban by the German Football Federation (DFB).

Podolski's contract with Bundesliga strugglers Cologne does not expire until June 2013 and he is set to star at Euro 2012, having previously made 95 appearances for Germany.

German daily Bild have previously claimed Cologne want 18 million euros for Podolski, who has scored 16 goals in 21 German league games this season - more than half of his team's total tally of 31.