Lukas Podolski appears to have played his last game in an Arsenal shirt after his agent confirmed that boss Arsene Wenger has told him he is free to leave.
Podolski spent the second half of last season on loan at Inter Milan but had hoped he would return to north London for next season.
The 30-year-old forward met with Wenger seeking assurances he would be part of the first team next season and, having been told that was not possible by the Frenchman, he is now looking for a new club.
His agent Nassim Touihri says the Arsenal boss will allow the player to move on in the hope of finding regular football.
“We had good talks with Wenger,” Touihri told German newspaper Bild. “He wanted to keep Lukas at Arsenal but could not guarantee him a starting position. That’s why we agreed to make a transfer.”
Three years after he signed for Wenger, Podolski was unable to hold down a regular starting berth and he finds himself behind the likes of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck in the Emirates’ pecking order.
Galatasaray appear to be the frontrunners to land the Germany international after the Turkish club’s sporting director Cuneyt Tanman confirmed their interest.
Podolski is open to the idea of joining Galatasaray, with the lure of Champions League football a factor.
“I grew up in a Turkish area and know a bit of Turkish. Champions League football is a must and Galatasaray have made a lucrative offer,” he said in a recent interview.
Arsenal are 5.00 to win the Premier League next season.
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