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28 March 2024

Podolski's move to Arsenal put on hold

Lukas Podolski has scored 14 goals in 16 Bundesliga matches this season. (FILE)

Published
By Staff

Lukas Podolski has ruled out a January move to Arsenal, according to the Cologne striker's agent Kon Schramm.

He told the Guardian that a move in the Bundesliga winter break is "all but impossible", citing the player's reluctance to endanger his chances of featuring for Germany in the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine this year.

"Cologne has priority right now; we have time (for everything else) in the summer," said Schramm.

With 14 goals in 16 Bundesliga matches this season, the Polish-born striker is in a rich vein of form and is not willing to sacrifice a place in the Germany squad for Euro 2012 by taking his career abroad.
 
"I have always said that I have not been dictated by the pressures of time when deciding my future," Podolski said. "I do not believe in lightning strikes, I must be clear. I believe that I will see everything in the summer.
 
"With Cologne, I hope to get as high as possible. I want to exceed the number of goals I scored last season. With the national team, I want to play in the European Championship in Poland, my homeland. We are among the favourites and our dream is to win the trophy. We cannot hide."

The left-footed Podolski has 95 caps and has been a mainstay for the German national team since 2004, but he is faced with increasing competition from emerging talent such as Mario Götze (Dortmund) and Marco Reus (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

With Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh heading off on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, it would provide 26-year-old Podolski with an opportunity to play wide left for Arsenal, in the same role he has successfully filled for Joachim Löw’s team in recent years, though the player is much happier as a centre forward.

He is also very settled at his hometown club. On Monday, he revealed to Bild he was putting off planned nasal surgery so as not to miss training

Arsene Wenger is set to bring in Gunners legend Thierry Henry back on a short-term loan deal.

But the Gunners have been linked with a £10 million swoop for the Germany international with Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker added fuel to the rumours by suggesting Podolski would be a resounding success at Emirates Stadium.
 
Despite the Arsenal manager’s protestations to the contrary, there has been contact with the Polish-born forward in recent weeks.

 

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