With transfer rumors swirling, Lukas Podolski admitted to German publication Bild that his future will be changing.
Whether that includes a transfer remains to be seen, but the 29-year-old winger said he will be having conversations with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about the boss’s plans for his use in the next few weeks.
“I have a contract with Arsenal through 2016, and fit in with London and the fans very much,” Podolski told Sport Bild. “Nevertheless, I want to play football and am not the type of player who sits on the bench until his contract runs out.”
Podolski said he would “seek a conversation with the coach and the club and see what is best for both parties.”
Not surprisingly, his motivations are largely rooted in maintaining a place in the national team. When making squad selections, USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann has placed a heavy importance on club performances, and it’s clear where the German gets his mantra from.
“If you get little playing time with the team, you cannot expect to be selected for the national team,” Podolski said. He was not a main selection by German manager Joachim Low during the 2014 World Cup.
One team he certainly won’t end up is at Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and Podolski made that known in an extremely clever way.
The BBC tweeted their rumor roundup, and mentioned that Spurs could be a possible destination for Podolski - or at least, that’s what the latest rumors had said. So Podolski decided to respond.
@BBCSport @Arsenal Hell will freeze over before this transfer would happen. #Poldi #aha #AlwaysAGunner #NeverCheatYourClub #AFC #Redarmy
— Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) October 20, 2014
Classic. Podolski loves him some social media, and he reaffirmed his love for the city of London with this awkward Instagram post
http://instagram.com/p/uWOtFBuJ2W/
The man may eventually leave the Emirates, but it’s clear he loves Arsenal, loves the fans, and loves London. It’s often difficult for someone like him to pull the trigger on a move away, so it will be interesting to see what he decides in the winter window.