Arsene Wenger will be hoping Cologne are relegated from the Bundesliga this year, as it will activate a £5 million release clause for long-term target Lukas Podolski (Daily Mail).
Podolski has netted sixteen goals in twenty games for Cologne this season, although his rich vein of goalscoring form hasn’t been enough to prevent his club becoming embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation.
Cologne have amassed just a single point from their last four games, with their last win coming against bottom side Kaiserslautern. This was Cologne’s only victory in their last nine encounters and it’s looking like a grim situation for The Billy Goats, who currently lie just three points above the drop zone.
One man who will take pleasure from such misfortune is Arsene Wenger, who could pick up the German international for a cut price of just £5 million. If such a deal were to go through, it would surely be up there as bargain of the century.
Even if Cologne do manage to avoid relegation, it looks as though Podolski will be an Arsenal player next year, with the 26 year-old reportedly having already agreed personal terms with The Gunners (Daily Mail).
