Spurs, Man City & Everton To Miss Out On German International

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Premier League clubs Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are set to lose out in the race for German International Lukas Podolski at Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga giants revealed that the striker will return to former club Cologne at the end of the season.

Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for 23-year-old Podolski since the summer, while City manager Mark Hughes is reportedly keen to bring Polish-born Podolski to the Eastlands Stadium during the transfer window.

Toffees manager David Moyes is desperate to sign a striker in January, with James Vaughan out with a long-term knee injury and Nigerian International Yakubu ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up an achilles injury in the 1-0 Premiership win against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Podolski, despite being a regular for the German national team has found limited opportunities this season under coach Jurgen Klinsman, who has preferred to play Miroslav Klose and Italian Luca Toni upfront for the Bundesliga club.

However, Podolski looks set to leave the Allianz Arena for Cologne, who he left for Bayern in 2006, with his former club having first option on the forward should he be allowed to leave the Munich side.

This has been confirmed by Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness, who has revealed that Bayern,will accommodate Podolski’s wish to leave the Allianz Arena, however this would depend on Klinsman finding a replacement for the striker.

Hoeness said: “We think we can fulfil his wish to go back to Cologne.”

Everton Lead Spurs, Man City & Real In Race For Podolski?

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Everton are reportedly favourites ahead of Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to sign want-away striker Lukas Podolski from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, according to The News of the World.

23-year-old Podolski, despite being a regular for the German national team has found limited opportunities this season under coach Jurgen Klinsman, who has preferred to play Miroslav Klose and Italian Luca Toni upfront for the Bundesliga giants.

Spurs and City along with La Liga Champions Real Madrid have all been heavily linked with a move for 23-year-old Podolski. Bayern chief, German legend Franz Beckenbauer declared last week that Podolski would be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena if the German clubs valuation of €15million was met.

Beckenbauer told Bild: “Everything in life has its price.

“Two and a half years ago, we paid €10 million. Now, the fee is €15 million.

“You cannot keep a professional if he is unhappy, on the bench, and not playing.

“Poldi does not quite fit into our way of playing. He is a top-class striker when he has space in front of him as he has the pace to run clear.

“But the teams we play against are usually very defensive, so we need players who can get into the penalty area – Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni in particular.”

Now the Sunday tabloid claims that the Toffees have entered into the frame to sign Podolski, with Everton manager David Moyes desperate to add some firepower at the Merseyside club in January after injuries to strikers Louis Saha and James Vaughan.

€15million would not be prohibitive for all three of the Premier League clubs, with it looking certain that Podolski will leave the Bundesliga club in January. However, whether Podolski chooses Goodison Park over the Eastlands, White Hart Lane or the Bernabeu remains to be seen.

Another option for Podolski could be a return to his former club Cologne, who have first option on the striker and have expressed an interest in bringing Podolski back to the Rhein Energie Stadion.

Spurs, Man City & Real Madrid On Alert As Beckenbauer Says Podolski Can Leave For €15million

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Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City along with Real Madrid are on red alert after German legend Franz Beckenbauer revealed that striker Lukas Podolski will be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena.

23-year-old Podolski, despite being a regular for the German national team has found limited opportunities this season under coach Jurgen Klinsman, who has preferred to play Miroslav Klose and Italian Luca Toni upfront for the Bundesliga giants.

Beckenbauer has revealed that this is due to the Podolski’s style not fitting in with Bayern’s way of playing and has said the Polish-born forward can leave Bayern if their valuation of €15million is met.

Beckenbauer told Bild: “Everything in life has its price.

“Two and a half years ago, we paid €10 million. Now, the fee is €15 million.

“You cannot keep a professional if he is unhappy, on the bench, and not playing.

“Poldi does not quite fit into our way of playing. He is a top-class striker when he has space in front of him as he has the pace to run clear.

“But the teams we play against are usually very defensive, so we need players who can get into the penalty area – Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni in particular.”

This will alert City and Spurs along with Real, who have all been heavily linked with Podolski, with a January transfer now looking more likely than ever for the striker. €15million would not be prohibitive cost for all three clubs, with the decision resting with Podolski as to whether White Hart Lane, the Bernabeu or the Eastlands Stadium is the right place to ply his trade.

However, Podolski’s former club Cologne have expressed an interest in resigning the striker, with the German club having first refusal as part of the deal that took Podolski to Bayern.

Man City, Spurs & Real Madrid On Alert As Podolski Demands January Bayern Exit

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German International Lukas Podolski has put Premier League clubs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur along with La Liga side Real Madrid on red alert after the striker declared that he has told present club Bayern Munich that he wants to leave when the transfer window opens in January.

Podolski has been at Bayern since joining from Cologne in 2006, but has found limited first-team opportunities under new manager Jurgen Klinsman this season and is now ready to quit the Allianz Arena this winter.

“I have made my mind up that I would like to leave the club in the winter,” Podolski told the Bild newspaper.

“I have already told the management that I want to leave this winter.”

23-year-old Podolski had been heavily linked with a move to Spurs during the summer, with the North London club reportedly ready to make a fresh approach in January to lure the prolific forward from the Allianz Arena giants to White Hart Lane.

City, with all their financial backing after being taken over by the ADUG have been strongly linked with a move for Podolski in January, with manager Mark Hughes said to be a big fan of the striker, who has scored 31 goals in 60 caps for Germany. The Blues are also understood to have had an offer for Podolski turned down in the summer by Bayern.

Real had also shown an interest in Podolski in the summer and could reignite their interest in bringing the German to the Bernabeu due to Los Merengues striker Ruud van Nistelrooy being ruled out through injury for the rest of the season.

However, former club Cologne could also feature, with the Bundesliga side having first option on Podolski should the striker’s transfer request be granted by Bayern.

Arsenal Given Hope In Van Buyten Chase?

Arsenal transfer target Daniel van Buyten has revealed that while he is happy at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich he will see what happens during the winter, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger reportedly ready to swoop for the Belgian International in January.

30-year-old Van Buyten has been at the Allianz Arena since making the switch from SV Hamburg in 2006, but despite limited opportunities under new coach Jurgen Klinsman this season insists he will not be looking for a new club.

“I am still good at Bayern and I want to stay there,” Van Buyten told HLN.

“I understand I am going to play less regularly this season, but I am focused on doing my best, without looking for a new club.”

However, Van Buyten has suggested that his stance could be changed, with the Belgian declaring Arsenal “a top club” and that there is still time to take a decision on his future. Leaving the door open for a January switch to the Premier League.

“I must say Arsenal are a top club. We will see what happens during the winter but I am good at Bayern and there is still enough time to take a decision,” he added.