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Cape Town - As rumours continue to rumble of Lukas
Podolski's imminent Arsenal departure, former club FC Koln have ruled
themselves out of the running for his signature.
Podolski came through the Cologne club's academy and has represented the Die Geissbocke on two separate occasions, between 1995 and 2003 and again between 2009 and 2012, before joining the Gunners.
The Germany international has found chances hard to come by at the Emirates of late and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club.
While Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out selling the forward, FC Schalke and now Koln have denied interest in the 29-year-old.
"We do not have €5 million [£4m] and we can't pay the salary for a player like Podolski," Koln managing director Jorg Schmadtke is quoted as saying by Football411.
"Podolski needs a team where he can play to its strengths and bring them to full advantage. We can not currently offer that. I told him our point of view and I think Lukas sees it the same way."
Club president Werner Spinner also believes signing Podolski would be a bad move for both Koln and the player.
"It would be difficult to integrate a 121-cap international, who also plays in the Champions League with Arsenal," he added. "We will never again impose such a responsibility on one player.
"No-one has anything against Podolski returning to Koln - he is a popular figure - but we do not want to jeopardise the team's uniformity."
Podolski came through the Cologne club's academy and has represented the Die Geissbocke on two separate occasions, between 1995 and 2003 and again between 2009 and 2012, before joining the Gunners.
The Germany international has found chances hard to come by at the Emirates of late and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club.
While Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out selling the forward, FC Schalke and now Koln have denied interest in the 29-year-old.
"We do not have €5 million [£4m] and we can't pay the salary for a player like Podolski," Koln managing director Jorg Schmadtke is quoted as saying by Football411.
"Podolski needs a team where he can play to its strengths and bring them to full advantage. We can not currently offer that. I told him our point of view and I think Lukas sees it the same way."
Club president Werner Spinner also believes signing Podolski would be a bad move for both Koln and the player.
"It would be difficult to integrate a 121-cap international, who also plays in the Champions League with Arsenal," he added. "We will never again impose such a responsibility on one player.
"No-one has anything against Podolski returning to Koln - he is a popular figure - but we do not want to jeopardise the team's uniformity."
