Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski on Galatasaray transfer shortlist

Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski has been identified as one of Galatasaray's primary summer transfer targets, but the Turkish giants are yet to open talks with the Germany international.

Podolski spent the second half of last season on loan at Inter Milan, after failing to make a single Premier League start for the Gunners, but he failed to make an impact at the San Siro.

The 30-year-old scored one goal in 17 appearances for the Italian giants and has returned to Arsenal this summer for discussions over his future.

With just one year remaining on his contract at Arsenal, Podolski's days in north London appear numbered, particularly given last summer's additions of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.

But the ex-Bayern Munich forward could yet be offered a route out of Arsenal after Galatasaray revealed he was among two players, including Andre-Pierre Gignac, who the club were targeting this summer.

"Podolski and Gignac are both on out shortlist," manager Hamza Hamzaoglu told NTV Sport. "We have not yet entered direct talks."

In the second of Podolski's two first team starts last season he netted twice against Galatasaray in a 4-1 Champions League win in Istanbul.

After being informed that Inter would not be interested in making his loan move permanent, Podolski has sent missed messages over his future at Arsenal and earlier this week said he would not return to the Emirates Stadium to sit on the bench.

"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."

Earlier this week, the Premier League release list confirmed the Gunners have released seven players following the end of the campaign, a group which includes Abou Diaby and Ryo Miyaichi.