After Arsenal had to hang on with 10 men against QPR on Boxing day, Arsene Wenger was asked about the future of Lukas Podolski at Arsenal. It was because the German international did not feature at all, although the manager was able to explain that the need to dig in meant that he was never going to bring on another striker at that point.
But although the boss was playing down any talk of Podolski leaving the Gunners during the January transfer window, he did not categorically deny it. And he did not deny the rumours about a January swoop for the PSG and Uruguay international striker Edinson Cavani either, but he did allude to the rumours coming from France, as an Arsenal.com report explains.
Wenger said, “I don’t give any importance to rumours. There was a rumour two days ago in France that I offered £62 million for Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain. Everyday there is a different rumour so I don’t give importance to that. In every big club you have some players who don’t play and they are not happy. If you find players who are happy when they don’t play you have a problem. He [Podolski] will play. Rosicky had an outstanding game today and he didn’t play for a long time. Our job is always to be ready when you play.”
A report by Metro today claims that the French champions are expecting an offer from Arsenal for their forward, of around £50 million, and it also declares that PSG are going to accept it.
It is widely believed in France that Cavani will be moving on in January, with Arsenal now seemingly favourites, but most people in England are expecting Arsenal to concentrate on strengthening the squad in the defensive and midfield areas rather than up front. But could Wenger be set to surprise us all again?