Arsene Wenger tried to persuade Lukas Podolski to stay at Arsenal, according to the forward’s agent.
The 30-year-old is on the verge of sealing a move to Galatasaray on a four-year deal but his representative, Nassim Touihri, has claimed Wenger attempted to convince the German international to remain at the Emirates.
Touihri told German newspaper Bild:
‘We had very good talks with Wenger.
‘He wanted to keep Lukas, but couldn’t give him a guarantee that he will be starter.
‘That’s why we agreed on a transfer.’
Podolski spent the second half of last season out on loan with Inter Milan, but failed to impress at the Serie A club, thus returning to Arsenal at the end of last season. Although he was happy to remain at Arsenal, he didn’t want to sit on the bench another year and looks set to move to Galatasaray before the summer transfer window closes.
Despite Touihri’s comments, I truly don’t believe Wenger wanted to keep Podolski. The Frenchman hardly used him last season, and the season before that the German struggled to feature for the Gunners, so why would he want to keep hold of him for? It doesn’t make sense.
In any case, Podolski looks set to leave and with Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo likely to follow, it will be interesting to see if our club sign a striker this summer.
