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Podolski is a Gunner as Arsenal agree £10.9m deal with Cologne for striker
By John Edwards
Last updated at 8:37 PM on 7th March 2012
Lukas Podolski will become an Arsenal player at the end of the season after Cologne accepted a £10.9million bid for the Germany striker.
Sportsmail revealed last week that Podolski had agreed personal terms with Arsenal and that the only obstacle to a deal going through was the clubs’ respective valuation of the 26-year-old.
An initial near-£18million asking price was dismissed as prohibitive by Arsenal, who began the bidding at around £8million. With Podolski underlining his eagerness to spearhead Arsene Wenger’s attack by quickly settling on personal terms, however, the Gunners came back with an improved offer that was reluctantly accepted by the Bundesliga club.
London calling: Cologne striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal this summerPodolski is now due at Emirates Stadium once the Bundesliga season ends and will sign a four-year deal worth over £100,000 a week.
Cologne manager Stale Solbakken reacted to Sportsmail’s account of Podolski’s imminent departure by admitting he feared he would lose his prize asset this summer.
The air of resignation at Cologne increased after Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker admitted on German television on Wednesday that he had been quizzed by his international team-mate about life at the club.
‘He has been very interested for the past few weeks,’ said the Arsenal centre-back. ‘He has sent me a number of text messages, and I have told him this is a great place to work and Arsenal are an amazing club.’
Sportsmail reported last month that Arsenal were eager to convince Robin Van Persie of their ambitions by bidding for Podolski and his Germany team-mate Mario Goetze.
While Borussia Dortmund are in no mood to let rising star Goetze leave without a fight, Cologne quickly realised they had little hope of keeping Podolski, in the wake of Arsenal’s approach.
German connection: Mertesacker hopes to be playing alongside some of his compatriots next term at the EmiratesWenger followed up his interest after Podolski impressed Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley with a consistent run of form that has brought him 16 Bundesliga goals this season.
Wenger has been under mounting pressure to make the calibre of signings needed to dispel any misgivings Van Persie may harbour about committing himself to the club beyond a contract that runs out at the end of next season.
Polish-born Podolski is in his second spell at Cologne, after having mixed fortunes during a three-year stay at Bayern Munich, but has done enough on the international stage to leave Wenger in no doubt about his pedigree.
Wenger has also been encouraged to pursue a long-standing interest in the left-sided frontrunner by a firm belief that he has the pace and physical strength to thrive in the Barclays Premier League.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1oVthKOYI
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