Transfer news: Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski linked with loan move to Schalke

Reports in Germany suggest Podolski will return to the Budesliga

James Orr
Friday 23 August 2013 15:12 BST
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Arsenal's Lukas Podolski is a target for Schalke 04
Arsenal's Lukas Podolski is a target for Schalke 04

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will join Bundesliga side Schalke 04 on a season-long loan, according to reports in Germany.

Podolski, who has scored 46 goals in 111 caps for Germany, struggled towards the end of last season for Arsenal, and has scored in just two of his last 11 matches for the club. He was also substituted 23 times in the Premier League last season, only Steed Malbranque (26 for Sunderland in 2009-10) had been taken off more in a Premier League season.

The forward, who has also interested Wolfsburg and Juventus, did not start either of Arsenal’s two competitive matches this season, and was quoted in German newspaper Bild earlier this summer as saying: “There are always offers; I don't have any influence on that. I have a contract with Arsenal. There's no reason to leave the club. However, in the football-business a lot of things are conceivable.”

This is not the first time Schalke have been interested in the 28-year-old forward, having failed to sign him in 2007 while the player was at Bayern Munich.

Former Germany international Gerald Asamoah, who recently moved to Schalke from Greuther Furth said of Podolski potentially joining up with him at the Veltins-Arena: “Poldi is a great guy who will really suit Schalke. It would be brilliant.”

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