Arsenal Transfer News: Lukas Podolski is Now a Gunner, to Join in Summer - Report

German striker Lukas Podolski will reportedly join Arsenal from German club FC Köln, for a transfer fee of £10.9m, at the end of the season, according to a Daily Mail report.

Köln, who initially turned down a £8m bid from Arsenal, finally agreed to settle, despite hoping for a £20m fee.The 26-year-old striker, who has reportedly signed a four-year contract with the Gunners, will receive a weekly wage of £100,000.

It seems the young forward has been in contact with national team mate Per Mertesacker, who transferred to Arsenal at the start of the current season.

"He has been very interested for the past few weeks. He has sent me a number of text messages, and I have told him this is a great place to work and Arsenal are an amazing club," the Daily Mail quoted Mertesacker as saying.

Meanwhile, according to other reports, Russian clubs such as Lokomotiv Moscow and Anzhi Makhachkala had also been pursuing the German striker, possibly offering him more money than Arsenal. Fortunately for Gunners fans the striker chose the London club, stating money was not his primary motive.

"Money is not the most important thing for me. What is crucial is the development of my game," Podolski said in a BBC report.

Now, with rumours of van Persie leaving the Gunners for Manchester City, Arsenal are, according to a Sun report, looking to add more talented players, including Dortmund's young striker Mario Gotze and West Brom midfielder Peter Odemwingie, to their strike force.

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