Lukas Podolski to end his hiatus?

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT DFL. Cologne's striker Lukas Podolski reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. 1. FC Cologne in Leverkusen, western Germany, on September 17, 2011. Cologne won the match 1-4.

average football fan sees the likes of David Villa, Edin Dzeko and Luis Suarez flourishing weekly for their clubs and taking all the plaudits, while Lukas Podolski meanwhile quietly goes about his business at FC Cologne.

FC Cologne have not made it into Europe in their past history, thereby limiting Podolski’s career only within Germany. The struggling club have done well to maintain their position in the top flight, but the time may have come for Podolski to end the lull and take his due honours.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT DFL. Cologne's striker Lukas Podolski celebrates Cologne's first goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1. FC Cologne vs 1899 Hoffenheim in Cologne, western Germany, on September 25, 2011.

Podolski broke into the first team at age 18 for Cologne, impressing with his beauty of a left-foot. Having made his world début in 2004, the adopted darling of Die Mannschaft has played nearly 100 games tallying 43 International goals.

His obligatory transfer to Bayern Munich in 2006 for around 10 Million Euros ended in disappointment for many. The turbulent three years he spent there in which Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose were preferred to him were uninspiring. But then Podolski made a brave transfer back to his home club Cologne. A decisive move, which could have cost him his international career.

Germany's Lukas Podolski (R) challenges Turkey's Gokhan Gonul during their Euro 2012 qualifying Group A soccer match at Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul October 7, 2011.

Lukas should be saluted for his homage and loyalty to Cologne. His flair is unbelievable at times, but 24 goals since 2009 for Cologne has seen his club career stagnate for a while. He continues to play for Germany but with the introduction of Lewis Holtby, Toni Kroos and Mario Goetze into the team may have prompted him to seek a move way from Cologne in January.

The 26 year old has attracted interest primarily from Arsenal and Lazio for a move next January. He has hinted that his time may be up at Cologne by saying: “I do not want to rush into a decision — I have always said it is open and that I preferred to see how the club was developing.”

Rumour Mill

German national football coach Joachim Loew (R) and player Lukas Podolski (L) look up during the presentation of the new national team kit at a press conference in Hamburg, November 9, 2011. Germany face Euro 2012 co-hosts the Ukraine in Kiev on November 11, 2011, then host Holland in Hamburg four days later for friendly games.

Joachim Loew endorsed Lukas's move to a top club this week, saying that he was 'good enough'

The 26 year old is currently contracted till 2013, but Arsenal may be tempted to splash the cash, which will be around €15 Million to attain the services of the marksman. Lazio have joined the race for Podolski’s signature with Liverpool also said to be interested.

His agent Kon Schramm has claimed that Lazio have approached Cologne about a transfer, but they aren’t persuaded to cash in on their star player according to the German press.

Edited by Staff Editor