Lukas Podolski’s Inter Milan switch moves closer

Southampton: Lukas Podolski’s proposed transfer from Arsenal to Inter Milan is believed to be on the brink of completion.

Inter have returned with a more realistic offer for the Germany striker, who was not a part of the Arsenal squad that lost 2-0 at Southampton in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.

The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, cited a “tight groin” as the reason for Podoski’s absence, and the Frenchman smirked as he said so. Wenger also said that the 29-year-old had not trained since Sunday’s win at West Ham United.

Podolski is expected to again be absent when Arsenal begin their FA Cup defence this weekend against the team they beat in last season’s final, Hull City.

“The first proposal [of Inter] was farcical,” Wenger said. “After, they come back a bit more serious. We will see what happens. Is the move inevitable? Inevitable in a transfer is very difficult to say but we’ll see what happens. Of course, Podolski is open [to the move].”

Podolski has started only two matches this season — against Southampton in the Capital One Cup and at Galatasaray in the Champions League, when he scored twice. He also scored the team’s last-minute winner at Anderlecht after coming on as a substitute.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd, 2015