Lukas Podolski missed the Southampton game through injury as Inter Milan sniff around.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Gunners fans may never see German international striker Lukas Podolski play for the club again, report the Daily Star, as Inter Milan move close to securing a deal to sign the former FC Cologne man, who missed today’s frustrating defeat to Southampton through injury.
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Podolski is also set to miss out on the FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal this weekend and, with Inter having returned with a new offer for the German, it could be that he is a Serie A player by the time the Gunners next play a game that he is fit to be involved in.
Wenger admitted that Podolski could have been involved against Southampton at St. Mary’s today if fit enough, but he missed out through injury as Wenger’s side were comfortably beaten 2-0 by the high flying Saints:
“He has not practised for a few days now, since our last game at West Ham because of a tight groin.”
“So I don’t think he will be available for Sunday.”
Wenger also indicated that, whilst Inter’s first offer for Podolski was considered as derisory by the club, Roberto Mancini’s side have returned with a new proposal that could prove to be acceptable to the North London side, whilst Podolski himself is thought to be pushing for first team football:
“The first proposal was farcical. After they came back a bit more serious, then we will see what happens now.”
“Inevitable? Not in the transfer market, it’s very difficult to say, but we’ll see later.”