Arsenal forward being lined up for a £15m bid?

This is a strange one, and definitely not one I saw coming. Arsenal's summer signing Lukas Podolski has had a solid season so far, producing the odd moment of brilliance we all know he is capable of. However, it seems after just a year at the club, Juventus and Atletico Madrid are eyeing him up for a potential £15 million switch.

Arsene Wenger has developed a habit of withdrawing him from almost every match before full-time, and many questioned his fitness as a result. In reality, though, it is not his fitness, but rather his work-rate that cause his apparent fatigue at the end of each match. Whether that is the reason Wenger substitutes him is uncertain. Regardless, his work-rate is NOT, as the source for this article suggests, in any way the reason why Podolski's appearances have been limited in recent weeks. Rather, he has suffered unfortunate niggling injuries which have kept him out of the first team picture.

It seems unlikely that Wenger would agree to sell on the man he bought from FC Koln for £10.9 million so recently, who is undoubtedly the club's most clinical finisher. However, at Juventus especially, Podolski would be given the option to play in his preferred striking role, rather than the wide left one he currently occupies at Arsenal. If the Gunners wish to challenge for top honours again soon, a statement of intent needs to be made, and keeping Podolski is a good start.

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