Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski needs 'relaxed environment' to succeed claims Oliver Bierhoff

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff believes Arsenal outcast Lukas Podolski needs to move to a club where he can feel confident and play regularly in a relaxed environment.

Podolski, currently on loan at Inter Milan, looks almost certain to depart the Emirates Stadium during the upcoming transfer window having failed to register much of an impact since joining the Gunners from FC Koln in 2012.

The former Bayern Munich forward has just a year left to run on his contract at Arsenal and it seems highly unlikely fresh terms will be offered given he has made just 27 Premier League appearances over the past two seasons.

A lack of consistent opportunities under manager Arsene Wenger coupled with a mediocre spell in Serie A has seen the 29-year-old striker's career somewhat stall of late, and Bierhoff is eager to see his compatriot transfer to somewhere where he can relax and not get caught up in any heated battles for a first-team spot.

"When I heard he was going to Milan for six months I was sorry. I know that it is not easy to change clubs in January," he told Bild, as reported by the London Evening Standard.

"Football is not the same in every country. I hope he goes to a club which gives him confidence and has an environment where he will play with continuity. Going to a top club can mean having to [hustle] with teammates for a starting spot. Lukas must feel part of the family, he must be in a relaxed environment to do well."

While the identity of Podolski's next club is unknown, there could be a number of teams interested in vying for his signature in the summer.

A potential switch to Turkey has not been ruled out by the player's own agent, while speculation from elsewhere has suggested Wenger could be willing to use him as a makeweight in any deal to land Hakan Calhanoglu of Bayer Leverkusen.

Podolski earned his 123<sup>rd cap for Germany on 29 March, replacing Mario Gotze with four minutes to go, as the world champions moved to within one point of neighbours Poland at the top of European Championship qualifying Group D with a comfortable 2-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi.