Rumour: Arsenal listening to offers for striker Lukas Podolski

Lukas Podolski

Arsenal are apparently open to any offers for their German attacker, Lukas Podolski, in the summer, according to Goal.

The German signed for Arsenal for £11 million in 2012 and they are apparently seeking to sell him for around that same figure. It will be difficult to recoup the full fee or more, but the Gunners are willing to sell him for close to his original price-tag.

The forward, who turns 29 in June, has two years remaining on his contract and, like Mikel Arteta, was ignored in the recent flurry of extended deals handed to senior players.

Podolski has started two of Arsenal’s last three matches but, despite the team being decimated by the lengthy absences of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, he has failed to establish himself as a regular in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI.

Podolski often impresses off the bench but too often does he go missing from the start.

Wenger does not believe that the Germany international has the physical power and technical ability to spearhead the attack and he is behind the likes of Walcott, Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky in the battle for the attacking midfield roles.

There was strong interest from Schalke last summer and a return to the Bundesliga is a possibility. He is also being monitored by Serie A clubs.

Podolski has four goals in the league this season but converted 30.8% of his shots.