The Gunners have had a €7 million bid turned for the
Japanese international but are unwilling to swap their German forward in
exchange for the 25-year-old right-back.
Arsenal have told Schalke that Lukas Podolski is not for
sale after he was suggested by the German club as part of an ambitious swap
deal for defender Atsuto Uchida, Goal can reveal.
Talks have been held between the two clubs after the
Gunners made a €7 million bid for Japanese right-back Uchida earlier this week,
with Arsene Wenger sanctioning a flurry of moves for new signings.
But the straight cash offer was rejected by Schalke and a
possible part-exchange deal involving Podolski has failed to get off the ground
due to Wenger's reluctance to lose the Germany international.
The French boss is unwilling to sell the 28-year-old
forward even though he has had a frustrating time at the Emirates Stadium since
joining from Koln last year.
Podolski was omitted from the starting line-up for the
Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend in favour of Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain but returned to the team for the 3-0 midweek win against
Fenerbahce.
Goal revealed last week that Arsenal had targeted Uchida
to provide defensive cover this season and be groomed as a long-term
replacement for Bacary Sagna.
Wenger wants a right-back who can fit in with the
Gunners’ playing style and challenge Carl Jenkinson for the first-team slot if
Sagna leaves when his current agreement expires next summer.
The Frenchman re-opened contract talks with Arsenal
earlier this month but there was no breakthrough and he is still expected to
leave the north London club.
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