Arsenal’s Griezmann flirtation paves way for German’s Inter exit
Published:Inter Milan are on a recruitment drive under new owner Erick Thohir and seem hell-bent on overhauling their current squad with Premier League stocks.
Having already sealed a deal for one English top-flight veteran, the Serie A side are targeting one of Arsenal’s little-used forwards to bring some much needed gumption to their attack.
Despite being the league’s fifth-top scorers Inter only have one man, Rodrigo Palacio, with a tally in double figures.
That’s why Lukas Podolski is being sought to support to the Argentine and, with Arsenal themselves in the market for a new forward, a transfer mini roundabout looks set to be built.
The Gunners, who have the FA Cup as their best chance of silverware this season at 11/4, have made their interest in Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann public and his arrival could well spell the end of Podolski’s time in north London.
Both men play on the left side of midfield, or in an attacking three, and while Podolski’s season has been cruelly disrupted by injury, the Frenchman has registered numbers that make him an upgrade on the former Bayern Munich man.
Griezmann has scored 15 goals and laid on three assists for Sociedad this season, who are 7/2 to qualify for the Champions League and currently lie in sixth place. That tally follows a 10 goal, three assist return for 22-year-old in the prior campaign.
In 2012/13, Podolski’s debut term at the Emirates, the German managed 11 goals and nine assists, but with Inter so keen to reshape their playing staff, Arsene Wenger will be tempted to make room for the younger Griezmann by dispensing with the injury-prone 28-year-old.
With Podolski contracted to Arsenal until 2016 a heavy pay day is in store, helping to fund the Griezmann deal in the process.
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