by Mark Bassey 

Lukas Podolski’s agent, Ali Pektas, has denied that the striker is set to leave Arsenal for Serie A.

The German was left out of the Gunners’ squad over the weekend, as they battled to a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, fuelling speculations that he could be set for a move away.

Podolski did not help matters, after he posted a cryptic message on Instagram that read: “Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out. Opportunities don’t happen, you create them!’

Pektas however says all the stories are made up by newspapers and the player is not heading to Italy.

“I read in the newspapers that Juventus and Napoli were interested in Lukas,” he told tuttomercatoweb.it.

“But there has been no approach from either of those clubs.

“I don’t know if he will go to Italy in this transfer window. I can’t say anything for sure.

“The only certainty is that Lukas has a contract with Arsenal.”

Podolski, who has two years left on his current contract, is also attracting interest from Wolfsburg and Galatasaray.

ifreke

Ifreke Inyang is a public commentator and social media critic who has worked with a number of high profile publications across the country.