Tuesday, 18th November, 2014



1.FC Koln’s sporting director Jorg Schmadtke admits that they are in no position to afford Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski at the moment.

Despite winning the World Cup this summer with Germany, Podolski has been a fringe player this season at Arsenal and has only made one start for the club, in the League Cup.




The German is increasingly growing frustrated with life at the Emirates and said last week that he is going to make a decision on his future in January.

Podolski said earlier this year that he will not consider a move back to Germany unless his boyhood club Koln have an offer to make.
 


But the club’s sporting director has made it clear that Koln are not in a position to pay Podolski’s salary and said that the player also understands the situation.

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“We do not have €4m, and we cannot pay Podolski’s salary”, Schmadtke told Bild.

“Podolski needs a team where he can utilise his strengths to the maximum and we cannot offer him that.

"I told him how we see it, and I think Lukas sees it the same way.”

Juventus and Galatasaray are still maintaining their interest in the German with an eye on a deal in January.

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