Tag Archives: transfer news

Van Persie contract negotiations stall

  By jtom | 18/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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The big meeting on Wednesday did not go well for Arsenal, as reports suggest that Robin van Persie wants to assess his options before considering any contract to stay at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had wanted to sign the Dutchman to a new contract before Euro 2012, but that is now very unlikely. According to The Guardian, van Persie has “no intention” of accepting Arsenal’s proposed deal until he is able to review finalised offers from other clubs. With RVP currently training at the Holland camp, it appears as if this transfer drama will stretch out past Euro 2012 and late into the summer.

Manchester City and Juventus are the two favourites to land van Persie if he leaves North London. Both clubs firmly believe that the Dutchman has already decided to leave Arsenal, though the Gunners are still hopeful that they can convince van Persie to stay. Another outcome could see Arsene Wenger hold on to van Persie through the final year of his contract. Wenger has previously said that he would be willing to risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

I am of the opinion that it is useless to employ a player who wants to go. If the Gunners cannot hammer out a deal with van Persie, then he should be sold. Imagine a scenario in which we do retain Robin for the final season of his contract. If he is adamant on leaving, then surely he will not give all of his heart for the red and white. In addition, van Persie could suffer through an injury-riddled campaign next season, and we could end up gaining no value for his departure next summer. Holding onto van Persie until his contract expires is not a smart football or business decision.

Patrick Vieira is also worried about how Arsenal will handle the Robin van Persie situation in the coming months. Though he currently works at Manchester City, Vieira is obviously knowledgeable about the way the Gunners operate. On Thursday, Vieira said:

“I think losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last year was a big shock for the people who love Arsenal. If they lose Van Persie it will be a drama. With Samir and Cesc you could say, ‘OK those two are gone, but there is Jack Wilshere and Van Persie still at the club’. But if Robin leaves who is behind? If he leaves it’s going to be difficult for Arsenal to keep the top players, next year it may be Theo Walcott, then Jack Wilshere. But if they keep Robin they’re going to send a positive message to all the clubs and to all the people around. It’s really important to keep him.

“I’m quite surprised his contract (which is entering its last year) has got to this stage. It’s really difficult to find players of the quality of Robin Van Persie with one year left around the world and there will be a lot of teams who will want a player like him, not just Manchester City [who Vieira now works for]. They should have settled this a long time ago, but Arsenal don’t need me to tell them that. That’s the way it is and they will have to deal with it. There’s still a year, he’s not gone yet.

“Robin wants to win trophies. Arsenal have to show him he can do it with Arsenal. The best way for them to get him to sign a contract is to bring players to the club who can show him that the club are in the same line as him.

“We know how Robin loves Arsenal, that’s not the question; the question is how Arsene Wenger will convince Robin they can win trophies.

“Arsenal has qualified for the Champions League again but it’s not enough. I’m sure that if you ask Arsene he’ll say, ‘of course it’s not enough’. All the people at the football club will tell you it’s not enough.

“They’ve been quite close [to winning trophies] for quite a long time. They’ve got a lot of young players so over the years they can get experience and they’re going to be better players. The first step is to keep all the quality players and the talent.” (Source: The Independent)

Vieira’s anaylsis is interesting; however, it is not totally correct. If Arsene Wenger and his players were able to overcome the loss of their three top midfielders (Cesc and Na$ri left and Wilshere was injured for the entire season), then why can’t they handle the departure of van Persie? Time after time, Arsene Wenger has had to deal with a depleted squad, yet his teams always seem to avoid a total collapse. Arsenal existed before Robin van Persie, and they will surely exist without him if he decides to leave.

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Arsenal set for negotiations with Robin van Persie

  By jtom | 15/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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Robin van Persie will meet with Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday. The Gunners hope they can convince van Persie to stay at the Emirates Stadium by offering a record-breaking contract and explaining Wenger’s vision for the club. If Arsenal are unable to hook the Dutchman, Manchester City will be ready to pounce.

According to the BBC, van Persie, Gazidis, and Wenger will rendezvous at Wenger’s house on Wednesday at approximately 10:30 BST. At the meeting, Gazidis and Wenger hope to induce van Persie into signing a new Arsenal contract, though a deal is unlikely to be finalised before the Dutchman departs England for Euro 2012 training.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph have reported that van Persie will be offered a £130,000 per week contract for either three or four years. Also included in the deal will be a £5 million signing-on fee. If RVP accepts the proposal, he would become the highest-paid player in Arsenal’s illustrious history.

Arsene Wenger is expected to attempt to entice van Persie by painting a picture of Arsenal’s future. The French manager will declare Arsenal’s dream of capturing major silverware in the coming years. While that may seem laughable to some Arsenal critics, Wenger and Gazidis will discuss potential transfer activity to provide evidence for their vision. Apparently, van Persie fully endorsed the signing of Lukas Podolski.

In any event, Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis will try their best to impress van Persie. However, if their plan fails, Manchester City—and a plethora of other top clubs—are prepared to strike. According to The Mirror, the new Premier League champions are willing to hand van Persie a £250,000 a week contract. Bearing in mind that the Dutch striker currently makes £90,000 per week, that would be a massive pay rise.

Yet the Gunners appeared determined not to let another player leave for Manchester City. Arsene Wenger has said previously that he would not sell van Persie to City, and reports have indicated that the Dutchman would not be keen on moving to an English club.

The season has just ended, and the drama surrounding van Persie’s future will continue unless a new contract is agreed to before the European Championship.

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No thanks! Van Persie won’t go to Juventus

  By jtom | 10/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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Optimism is in the air at the Emirates Stadium as reports indicate that Robin van Persie will reject any offer from Juventus. However, Barcelona and Real Madrid still remain the primary choices for the Dutchman if he leaves Arsenal.

According to The Guardian, Robin van Persie is not interested in a move to a Seria A club. This is significant because new Italian champions Juventus have already publicly expressed their wish to sign the Dutchman. The general director of Juventus, Giuseppe Marotta, said:

“Van Persie is a great player. He is a complete player and would be useful to any team. But he still has one year left on his contract with Arsenal. We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good.” (Source: calciomercato.com)

Barcelona and Real Madrid are the main contenders in the battle for Robin van Persie. Still, Arsenal have the advantage because van Persie’s contract does not expire until the end of next season. As we have posted about previously, Arsenal will meet with van Persie and his representatives before the start of Euro 2012. If the Spanish giants have any hope of prying the Dutchman away from North London, they will need to submit a massive bid. Dominic Fifield of The Guardian is reporting that Arsene Wenger is under no pressure from the board to sell van Persie, and Wenger has said in the past that he would consider holding onto the Dutchman for the last year of his contract.

According to The Daily Mail, Robin has told friends and family that only an “extraordinary offer” from one of European football’s superpowers could force him to leave Arsenal. The Dutchman and his family are very happy and settled in London; the van Persie family has just moved into a new house.

The meeting between the Dutchman and Arsenal, which is expected to occur shortly after the season concludes, may decide whether van Persie stays at the Emirates Stadium. According to The Mirror, the Gunners will probably offer a £5 million signing-on fee to van Persie. In addition, any potential new contract awarded to RVP will break Arsenal’s current wage structure according to The Guardian.

If all of this information is to be believed and combined, the chance of van Persie leaving appears to be slim. Of course, as Gooners, we should realise that everything can change suddenly once a huge bid comes in from Real Madrid or Barcelona. Still, it’s nice that there is a feeling of hopefulness surrounding an Arsenal transfer saga for once.

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M’Vila close to Arsenal move

  By jtom | 08/05/2012 - 7:45 AM | Transfer News
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According to multiple sources, Arsenal are close to signing Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila. The potential transfer may hinge on whether the Gunners secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The Sun, The Daily Mail, and The Mirror are all reporting that Arsenal are seriously pursuing Yann M’Vila. Arsenal would need to pay around £17 million to bring M’Vila to the Emirates. The 21-year old holding midfielder from Rennes is regarded highly because of his strong defensive play.

Frederic Antonetti, manager of Rennes, once said about his young star: “He reads the game like Claude Makelele, has the presence of Patrick Vieira and can pass the ball like Yaya Toure.” (Source: FIFA.com)

Arsenal are clearly trying to complete their transfer dealings quickly and early. The signing of Lukas Podolski has already been confirmed, and reports now indicate that the Gunners are very interested in Yann M’Vila, Clint Dempsey, Jan Vertonghen, Junior Hoilett, and others. All of the names listed present the possibility of promising squad improvement heading into next season.

Any move could depend on Arsenal’s participation in the Champions League, which is why it is so vital that Arsene Wenger’s side finish third in the table. If the Gunners assure automatic qualification to the group stage, then the transfer business will be able to be dealt with early. If they finish fourth, deals may be halted due to the uncertainty of a difficult qualifying round opponent, like Arsenal had this season in Udinese. If Arsenal do not make it into the tournament at all, transfer targets will look elsewhere.

Needless to say, Arsenal’s final game of the season against West Bromwich on Sunday is vital.

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Confirmed: Podolski to Arsenal

  By jtom | 02/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Lukas Podolski, Transfer News
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International friendly match

It is finally official. Arsenal have announced the signing of German striker Lukas Podolski to a long-term contract. Arsene Wenger indicated that Podolski will be significant player at the Emirates for years to come.

Reports have strongly linked the 26-year old Podolski to Arsenal for months. On Monday, Arsenal Football Club announced the signing on their official website : “Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that a deal has been agreed to sign German international striker Lukas Podolski on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.”

Podolski has made his name as a prolific goalscorer in the Bundesliga and for Germany. He has scored 18 goals in 30 appearances for FC Cologne this season. Perhaps the most astounding aspect of Podolski’s career is the fact that he has scored 43 times for Germany, and he’s only 26!

Arsenal are in need of some finishing at the moment, but sadly, Podolski will not be able to feature for the Gunners until next season. On the bright side, the man they call “The Prince” in Cologne will be able to prepare for his first Premier League season by participating in all of Arsenal’s pre-season activities. Podolski is also expected to star for Germany in the Euros this summer.

Arsene Wenger commented on the announcement:

“We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

“We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championship over the summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26. That is a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

Podolski said about his upcoming move to North London:

“I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history. There are many top quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic. I’m proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

The addition of Podolski to our squad is immense. His presence could help persuade Robin van Persie to stay, or he could serve as a replacement should the Dutchmen depart. It is unusual for a transfer to be confirmed so early, though Arsene Wenger understandably wants to avoid a repeat of last summer’s hectic transfer period. Furthermore, Arsenal’s signing of Podolski provides more evidence to support my theory surrounding Arsene Wenger’s evolving transfer strategy. More on that tomorrow.

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Transfer News: M’Vila, Giroud, Sessegnon

  By jtom | 04/04/2012 - 7:15 AM | Transfer News
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Arsenal are reportedly tracking Rennes midfielder Yann M’Villa, Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, and Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon.

Yann M’Vila from Rennes has been linked with the Gunners over and over again. As one of Europe’s top young midfielders, M’Vila has many potential suitors, though he would love to play for Arsene Wenger:

“Inter, Arsenal, Real… I will take the fun everywhere! These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything. The important thing for me is getting playing time for the France team.” (Source: Canal+)

Clearly, M’Vila wants to work with Arsene Wenger, and why not? Wenger has helped many French footballers become stars for their country. In fact, some, like Yohan Cabaye, credit Arsene Wenger with attracting French players to England. Last month, the Newcastle midfielder said:

“Before Wenger there were not many French players in the Premier League. Maybe after his success, some French players think it is a good championship for French players to come here. That is probably why so many have come over to try to be a success.” (Source: The Journal)

On the subject of Yann M’Vila, respected French journalist Julien Laurens sent out this Twitter message: “Got a bit more on M’Vila today. His priority is Arsenal. Wages won’t be a problem but transfer fee could be as other big clubs interested too.”

According to The Telegraph, Arsene Wenger has told his chief French scout Gilles Grimandi to provide regular reports on Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud. Giroud is currently the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 with 18 goals. The 25-year old forward has impressed so much this season that he earned his first call-up to the French national squad in November.

Olivier Giroud’s main strength is in the air. At 6 ft. 3 in. (1.92 m.), he is a big, physical striker who can challenge centre-backs when a cross is floated in from the flanks. Hopefully, he’s a bit better than Nicklas Bendtner!

Montpellier will not be quick to sell their star striker. In January, Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin said that any club hoping to sign Giroud would need to pay a £50 million transfer fee. If that price isn’t negotiable, Arsenal will surely look elsewhere.

According to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are ahead of PSG in the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. The Black Cats have thrived with Sessegnon are the centre of their attack, but Martin O’Neill has already indicated that he may need to sell the talented 26-year old in the summer. A bid in the range of £10-15 million would be necessary in order to pry Sessegnon away from the Stadium of Light.

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Arsenal’s 3-step Summer Transfer Plan

  By jtom | 28/03/2012 - 7:40 AM | Transfer News
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Arsenal are planning to offload several ineffective players with high wages in the summer in order to free up money to increase the wages of some players and purchase two or three top-quality footballers.

While these steps are in order, some operations included in one step could happen before the previous step is complete. For instance, Lukas Podolski will probably sign with Arsenal before Nicklas Bendtner leaves North London. With that in mind, here are the three steps to Arsenal’s plan for the upcoming summer transfer window:

Step One: According to The Telegraph, Arsenal finally want to address the issue of player wages. Incredibly, the Gunners will spend £20 million more on wages this season than they did last season. Considering that two of our best players were sold last summer (Fabregas and Na$ri), that doesn’t seem like good business. The problem stems from the fact that several rarely-used players are paid disproportionate amounts of money.

Those on the chopping block include Andrey Arshavin (£75,000 per week), Manuel Almunia (£60,000 per week), Marouane Chamakh (£60,000), Sebastien Squillaci (£60,000), Nicklas Bendtner (£50,000), Denilson (£50,000), and Carlos Vela (£50,000) (all wage figures acquired from the Daily Mail). Of course, the trick will be actually moving these players on in the summer. Many of them would rather cuddle with their cash than play football.

Step Two: If the Arsenal are able to cut the wage bill by selling the aforementioned players, then the next step will be to secure a few of the key Gunners to long-term contracts. Obviously, the main priority is Robin van Persie, but do not forget about Theo Walcott and Alex Song. Arsene Wenger wants to keep all three of these players at the Emirates Stadium, and all three could receive a pay increase for their loyalty.

Another name set for a pay rise is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Telegraph reports that Chamberlain could see his wages double from £25,000 a week to £50,000 a week. Considering that Carlos Vela and Denilson also collect that amount, it only seems fair.

Step Three: The final step may be the one that most excites the supporters of Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is plotting to throw out the deadwood and sign a few top-quality players. Cologne striker Lukas Podolski is likely to be the first newcomer announced. In fact, that deal is expected to be announced any minute now.

Unfortunately, Mario Gotze, a long-time Arsenal target, just signed a contract extension at Borussia Dortmund. On the positive side, Arsene Wenger has another very promising midfielder on his mind- Yann M’Vila (Source: The Telegraph). The 21-year old holding midfielder could form a terrific partnership with Alex Song and present Arsene Wenger with a plethora of options in the middle of the park.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Gunners are also tracking Ajax center-back Jan Vertonghen. The 24-year old Belgian may cost Arsenal only £7 million because he the nearing the end of his contract at Ajax. Certainly, the addition of Vertonghen would only strengthen Arsenal’s back four.

A few deft moves in the summer and Arsene Wenger’s side could be flying high near the top of the table next season. That will only happen if the plan is executed effectively and has the desired results.

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Transfer News: Podolski announcement? + Vertonghen

  By jtom | 19/03/2012 - 7:30 AM | Transfer News
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According to express.de (German newspaper based in Cologne), Arsenal will announce the signing of Lukas Podolski on Monday (today). The report indicates that Gunners will pay a tranfer fee of around €15 million for the 26-year old striker. Two friendly matches will also be included in the deal.

With Robin van Persie’s future far from certain, Arsene Wenger and the board will want to avoid a repeat of last summer. By securing Podolski early, our chances of convincing van Persie to stay are significantly increased. And, if the Dutchman does leave, there will be no need to scramble on deadline day because Podolski will already be on the team. Furthermore, the thought of playing alongside van Persie may have been one of the key factors that pushed Podolski to make the decision to move to the Emirates Stadium. Settling transfer business early almost always puts a club in a good position.

As Arsenal supporters, we should know not to count our chickens before they hatch. Too many times we have heard about how close our club was to signing a player, only to see that player move somewhere else. Many are comparing the current saga involving Podolski with the rumours that surrounded Juan Mata last summer. In reality, the two cases are quite different. Other clubs were also reported to be in the mix for Mata, while not many other clubs are being linked with Podolski. It’s almost assumed around the football world that Podoloski will move to North London because the two sides have been so open about the whole ordeal. Cologne seem resigned to Podolski’s imminent departure, while Arsene Wenger simply smiles when he is asked about the German international at his press conferences.

Another player who may join the Gunners in the summer is Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen. The 24-year old is Thomas Vermaelen’s centre-back partner for Belgium, and Vertonghen could follow in Vermaelen’s footsteps by moving from Ajax to Arsenal. He has been linked with Tottenham, but, judging by his words, he would rather play for the red part of North London:

“I have instructed my agent carefully. He knows which clubs I want to join, and Arsenal are one of them. Arsenal are a magnificent club and I hear a lot of good things about English football. If a club of Arsenal’s calibre can reach agreement with Ajax, then I will gladly go over.

“I haven’t signed anything with them yet. But I went to watch them against Milan, together with my Ajax team-mate Siem de Jong, after [Thomas] Vermaelen invited us.” (Source: ESPN)

Perhaps the Vermaelen connection has given us the edge over Spurs in the race to sign Vertonghen. In a similar vein, Per Mertesacker has reportedly exchanged text messages with Podolski. Our strategy for attracting players is using our current players to reel them in. So far, it appears to be working.

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Wenger: Arsenal will keep Robin van Persie

  By jtom | 10/03/2012 - 7:43 AM | Arsene Wenger, Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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Roberto Mancini recently declared Manchester City’s interest in Robin van Persie, but Arsene Wenger was quick to dismiss any notion that the Dutchman is unsettled at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas did another interview about Arsenal and Jens Lehmann could join the Gunners’ coaching staff.

Robin van Persie’s contract does not expire until the end of next season, though that has not stopped a constant firestorm of rumours erupting surrounding his future. Arsene Wenger left no room for misinterpretation when he said: “We will not lose anybody to Manchester City, or to anybody else, because we want to keep our players. We want to keep Robin van Persie, that is clear; we will do everything possible to extend his contract, that is clear and, apart from that, I can only let people talk.

“I don’t mind [what Mancini said on Wednesday]. I read what Mancini said. It’s not so bad. At our level, we are professional people. I believe if you are to have one quality, it is not to be unsettled because what is said of you by other clubs is part of the job. I would just like to specify that Robin is not at the end of his contract. He is under contract until 2013.” (Source: The Guardian)

Wenger made similar comments about Samir Na$ri and Cesc Fabregas only days before both players left. However, the manager explained that he will handle van Persie’s situation differently:

“I was very adamant [over Nasri at the time] but at the end of the day, it was a difficult situation to manage. We had the players and we felt after the pre-season tour that [Aaron] Ramsey and [Jack] Wilshere could work in midfield and we could add somebody more, and if a player didn’t want to extend, where do we go from there … but we’ll see. We do our best to keep our best players.” (Source: The Guardian)

Others think that Arsenal will sign Lukas Podolski to replace the Dutchman, but Wenger made it clear that “our plan is to keep van Persie, even if we buy any player.”

Unfortunately, Wenger has a habit of making wide-ranging (and sometimes ridiculous) statements during his press conferences. Last summer, right before Na$ri and Cesc left, Arsene (incorrectly) said that there would be no players leaving North London during that transfer window, and the comments he made on Friday seem eerily similar. Many Arsenal supporters are already tired of transfer sagas, but it does appear that the Robin van Persie edition will only continue to heat up from here.

Cesc Fabregas talked about Arsenal again, this time in an exclusive interview with The Guardian. He spent plenty of time speaking about his dream-come-true in the Camp Nou, but he mentioned our club quite a bit as well.  About the recent struggles of Arsene Wenger, Cesc said: “Whatever he suffered I suffered it as well. We feel the same and we always try our best. The boss is very strong and he believes in the club so much I am sure he will find a means to bring Arsenal back to where it belongs. I have no doubt because he’s a great man. He knows when he is wrong and when he is right. He will find a way – for sure.”

The whole part about Fabregas “suffering” is odd, because for most of the interview he explains how it is has been heaven to play alongside Messi and Xavi. He talks about how he loves the drive and ambition the Barcelona players possess and how he adores training with Pep Guardiola everyday. It’s all a bit sickening really. Cesc was a terrific player for us, and it was a joy watching him play, but perhaps he should close his mouth about our club. Or at the very least, stop accepting interviews about Arsenal once every two weeks.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal have a coaching position waiting for Jens Lehmann once the former keeper receives the correct paperwork from UEFA. It is expected that Lehmann will complete his training with the Welsh FA and take the job as a coach for the Arsenal Reserves. However, the German Federation has a problem with Lehmann leaving for Great Britain after beginning his coaching training in Germany. In fact, he is currently in a row with the German Federation over this issue. Intrigue is always present in the life of Jens Lehmann!

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Lukas Podolski set to sign with Arsenal

  By jtom | 01/03/2012 - 7:30 AM | Transfer News
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All signs and signals indicate that Cologne striker Lukas Podolski will complete a move to Arsenal in the summer. He has already agreed to personal terms with the Gunners, and Cologne seemed resigned to letting their star player leave after the European Championships.

According to German newspaper Bild, Podolski has made a provisional agreement to move to the Emirates Stadium once the summer transfer window opens. However, Arsenal still need to haggle with Cologne over the transfer fee. Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph reports that the Gunners would need to pay around £16 million for Podolski.

Cologne manager Stale Solbakken has hinted that the German club will not stand in Podolski’s way if he decides to leave: “Lukas’ decision is important for us all, but also for him. We must respect this. I know a little more than you. I know a lot, but for me it is important that he has everything under control and can concentrate on the upcoming games.

“Podolski is a Koln player at the moment and we know that he will be here until the end of the season. Then we will have to see what happens.” (Source: Goal.com via SID)

At the moment, Podolski is one of the top goalscorers in the Bundesliga this season with 15 goals. He is in the form of his life, but he has not been happy with Cologne’s progress. Cologne, Podolski’s hometown club, are only four points off the relegation zone. When Podolski left Bayern Munich for his second stint at Cologne, it was understood that the club would aim higher than simply staying in the German top-flight. Cologne has not shown significant improvement, which is one of the reasons Podolski may want out of his beloved club.

Podolski’s first and only stay at a ‘big club’ was when he was at Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, his Bayern career was not successful, though it also wasn’t a total failure. During the three-year period, Podolski had to compete with the likes of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose for playing time. He grew unhappy and decided to return to Cologne.

The real question may be whether Podoslki partners Robin van Persie or replaces him. Perhaps Arsene Wenger and company will purchase Podolski as insurance just in case van Persie bolts in the summer, but the ideal plan may be to have them play together. What a devastating pair they could form!

Even though Cologne are not expected to finish anywhere near the top of the table, reports suggest that Podolski’s move to Arsenal may hinge on whether we qualify for next season’s Champions League. Just another incentive for Arsene Wenger’s side to push on and secure one of the top four slots.

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