Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is '99%' likely to join Galatasaray

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is "99%" likely to leave the club and join Galatasaray this summer, according to the former chief scout of the Turkish giants.

Podolski, 31, left the Gunners to join Inter Milan during the January transfer window but returned to north London this summer after a lacklustre spell at the San Siro, where he scored just one goal in 17 appearances.

After failing to start a single Premier League game for Arsenal in the first half of last season, the Germany international's days at the Emirates look to be numbered.

Galatasaray could be prepared to offer him an exit route, with manager Hamza Hamzaoglu recently telling NTV Sport the player is "on our shortlist".

That potential move looks to have taken a step closer to completion, with Galatasaray's former chief scout Mahmet Alpaslan telling Radyospor the player is set on a move to the Türk Telekom Arena.

"Podolski told me he would join Galatasaray if an offer is made, so if a bid has been made, he is 99% likely to join," he said, translated by Turkish-football.com.

Podolski has made it clear he has not returned to the Emirates to sit on the bench for another season, warning Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he will consider a move if the right club comes in for him.

"For me to make an important decision, perhaps to stay in London, to give full throttle again and how to attack. I'm not going to get there and sit quietly on the bench," Podolski said, as quoted by the Berliner Morgenpost.

"If it is a new club, I have to make the right decision. Because it is perhaps the last big contract for me."

Podolski signed for Arsenal from Bundesliga side FC Cologne in 2011. Meanwhile, Abou Diaby left the Gunners at the end of the 2014-15 season, along with Ryo Miyaichi, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Jack Jebb, Josh Vickers, Austin Lipman and Semi Ajayi.