Inter Milan chases Lukas Podolski as Arsene Wenger hints striker could leave Arsenal in January

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dropped a massive hint that forward Lukas Podolski could leave the club in January.

The 29-year-old has seen his first team appearances limited as he has not started in the Premier League this season. The Gunners were without the services of Olivier Giroud for most of this campaign as the Frenchman was out of action with a foot injury.

Wenger fielded summer signing Danny Welbeck as a lone striker to lead Arsenal's attack in Giroud's absence. Podolski has already revealed there has been an offer from Wolfsburg for his services and that he could leave the north London club in the mid-season transfer window.

The Emirates club's manager is open for the sale of the German international next month after admitting that he could continue to spend most of his time on the bench when several injured players return to action.

"There is nothing concrete on Podolski. At the moment nobody goes out. But there is a lot of competition upfront," Wenger explained.

"We have Mesut Ozil coming back at the beginning of January so of course there's a lot of competition for places."

Earlier the Mirror reported that Inter Milan are keen on securing the services of the unhappy forward when the transfer window re-opens next month. The Serie A outfit have already made contact with Arsenal in signing Podolski.

Inter's technical director Piero Ausilio met Arsenal's official last Saturday to bring Podolski to San Siro in January. The Italian side are likely to face competition from Turkish giants Galatasaray and La Liga winners Atletico Madrid for Podolski's signature.

Meanwhile, the player has expressed his unhappiness after he saw his first team appearances being limited.

"I've spent the last four months making brief appearances. I've had to wrap myself up warm in my winter coat with my hat and scarf on to watch the others playing. I would rather show Arsenal what I am capable of but this chance to show what I can do is not being given to me," Podolski said.