Newcastle United have been linked to yet another big name ahead of the summer transfer window - with Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski supposedly on their transfer list. The German World Cup winner has been on loan at Inter Milan since January but has scored just one goal in 14 appearances - and he could become available for £10 million fee at the end of the season. Wages of £100,000-a-week plus could prove a stumbling block for Newcastle though, as they like to run the club on a tight budget. Allied to the fact he has struggled to find the back of the net, or break into the Inter first team, is the concern that Podolski will be 30 in June - an age that traditionally would convince the Magpies to immediately dismiss the 123-cap German. However, according to media reports in both England and Germany, Newcastle are looking to add experience and goals to their attack this summer - if they manage to avoid relegation. Podolski has a brilliant pedigree, having netted 48 international goals in 123 games. He has also scored 144 goals in 387 career appearances, including 31 in 82 for Arsenal and 86 in 181 for FC Koln. Having started his career at FC Koln, Podolski moved to Bayern Munich before returning to his original club. A move to Arsenal then followed in 2012, but he has always been a bit-part player under Arsene Wenger. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
