Schalke have revealed that they are interested in signing Germany international striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne.
Cologne striker on the Royal Blues' radar
Schalke have revealed that they are interested in signing striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne.
Podolski's contract with his club runs until the end of the 2012/13 season but he has been linked with a move away from the North Rhine-Westphalia next summer.
A number of sides are said to be interested in the 26-year-old, including Arsenal and Lazio, and now Schalke have thrown their name into the hat.
"We are thinking about lots of names and Lukas Podolski is one of those," the Royal Blues' chairman Clemens Toennies told
Bild.
"It's not a case of whether we can afford Lukas, more whether we want to."
Quality player
Cologne's director of sport Volker Finke is not surprised at Schalke's interest in Podolski but remains hopeful of retaining the forward's services for the long-term.
"Certainly, it's a commendation for Lukas and you can take it as a compliment," he said. "Lukas has the quality to play at the top level.
"So far, no one has contacted us from Schalke.
"Our position is that we want to extend his contract and hope to talk to him in the winter break (which starts December 18)."
Podolski, who has scored 13 goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Cologne this season, is valued at €25million.
