Inter Milan’s Interest In Lukas Podolski Is A Joke

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has fired back at rumors linking striker Lukas Podolski to a loan doal with Inter Milan. The past few days have seen a flurry of stories from Italy linking the German international with Roberto Mancini’s side.

According to various reports, the Internazionale coach has made Podolski and PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi his primary targets in January – as well as a host of other players – in order to strengthen the Serie A club’s squad and enhance its chances of earning a Champions League qualification for next season.

“Podolski is a good player,” Mancini told Sport Mediaset. “He is part of a list of players that we are following, so we will see what will come of it.”

Inter are currently in eleventh place in Serie A, but are only six points away from the final Champions League position in Italy.

Reports had suggested a deal was “all but in place” for Podolski to switch from the Emirates to the San Siro. What remained to be hashed out was whether or not Internazionale would have an option to buy the striker at the end of the season, or would have to send him back to the Gunners.

Wenger, however, refuted the reports linking his striker with a move, and went on to say that Arsenal will be looking to strengthen its squad in January, not weaken it.

“That is a joke. Inter Milan is not serious,” said Wenger at his Tuesday press conference ahead of the Gunners next match against Southampton.

“It is nothing serious. They talk, there is only talk.”

Inter Milan’s pursuit of Podolski may have hit a snag in recent days as Wenger now has to shuffle his lineup due to Olivier Giroud’s three-match suspension and Danny Welbeck’s thigh problem which he picked up during Arsenal’s last match against West Ham.

Wenger is obviously concerned that interest from Inter Milan has distracted the 29-year-old striker. When pressed further by the media, the Gunners manager called for the German international to be professional and justify his wages amid the on-going transfer speculation.

“Podolski is a player of Arsenal Football Club and I want him to stay. Apart from that, what it is to be professional is that as long as you are somewhere, you give your best to justify your wages and your love for the club,” Wenger added.

When asked if he believed Podolski would be at the club by the end of the January window, Arsene Wenger replied: “I hope so, yes.”