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Podolski: Money will not decide if I stay at Koln
The Germany international, who is out of contract at the end of next season, has hinted that a reported €1.7m pay rise would not be enough to keep him at his hometown club
10-Feb-2012 1:45:18 AM
By Mark Doyle
Bongarts
Koln's Lukas Podolski has insisted that money will not be the determining factor in his decision over whether to move abroad at the end of the season.
The Germany international is out of contract at the end of next season and it was claimed on Wednesday that his current employers had put together a bumper new deal which would net the player €5 million per season.
However, Podolski, who has been linked with Arsenal and Lazio in recent months, has hinted that the reported €1.7m pay rise would not be enough to keep him at Koln.
"FCK is and remains my club," he told Bild. "But for my future, other things are more important. For me, the financial aspect is not decisive."
Podolski, who claimed that Koln would be better served by strengthening their squad in order to persuade him to stay, also dismissed the figures being banded about in relation to his contract extension.
"In the talks there were definitely no numbers discussed," the 26-year-old forward declared.
Podolski is currently in his second spell with his hometown club, having rejoined Koln from Bayern Munich in 2009.
How do you stay up to date with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.
The Germany international is out of contract at the end of next season and it was claimed on Wednesday that his current employers had put together a bumper new deal which would net the player €5 million per season.
However, Podolski, who has been linked with Arsenal and Lazio in recent months, has hinted that the reported €1.7m pay rise would not be enough to keep him at Koln.
"FCK is and remains my club," he told Bild. "But for my future, other things are more important. For me, the financial aspect is not decisive."
Podolski, who claimed that Koln would be better served by strengthening their squad in order to persuade him to stay, also dismissed the figures being banded about in relation to his contract extension.
"In the talks there were definitely no numbers discussed," the 26-year-old forward declared.
Podolski is currently in his second spell with his hometown club, having rejoined Koln from Bayern Munich in 2009.
How do you stay up to date with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.
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