Hopes rise of Arsenal signing Cologne's Luka Podolski

ARSENAL have moved a step closer to signing Cologne sharpshooter Luka Podolski after he disclosed that he is pondering a fresh start. The Gunners have been linked with the 26-year-old German striker since last month and a deal appears increasingly likely after Podolski gave a candid interview to the German newspaper Bild.

"If I decide to leave Cologne, it will be to move abroad," said Podolski, who has scored 14 times in 15 appearances for his club this season but is believed to be after a fresh challenge.

Asked if he was aware that his critics believe he isn't capable of flourishing outside the comfort zone of Cologne, Podolski was quick to retort: "It annoys me that some people think I can only perform at Cologne... They claim something that is simply not right. I can also perform at my best in other surroundings."

The news that Podolski won't countenance a move to another Bundesliga club will come as a blow to Schalke O4, who had been courting him for weeks, but it will put a spring in the step of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, desperate to find a world-class striking partner for Robin van Persie.

In other news Talksport claims it's not China where Didier Drogba is likely to be headed next month, but rather Russia.

Following confirmation that Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka had signed for Shanghai Shenhua, rumours emerged linking his Blues team-mate with a similar move to the Far East. But Talksport reports that Anzhi Makhachkala will offer the 33-year-old Drogba a "whopping £10 million a year" next month. The mega-rich Russian club have already bagged a number of world-class players, including Samuel Eto'o.

In other news, the Metro says that Barcelona are on the brink of jettisoning David Villa. The 30-year-old Spanish striker has become surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou this season and there are also allegations he's had a tiff with star striker Lionel Messi. According to the Metro, the news that Villa could be up for sale next month might start a stampede among some of the Premier League's big hitters.

Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be monitoring events, and even Aston Villa are  keeping abreast of developments, though would they be able to afford a player of Villa's standing? He cost Barca £34m when he signed in 2010 from Valencia and the Catalan club would want to recoup most of that sum in any potential sale.

Still with Barca, and the Daily Mail says that the Spanish giants have turned down the chance to sign Chelsea flop Fernando Torres. What's more, the paper also claims that Real Madrid have turned their noses up at the man who's scored just five goals since joining the Blues from Liverpool in January in a £50m deal.

Apparently both clubs have "been sounded out" about Torres, who is rumoured to be no longer part of Andre Villas-Boas's plans at Stamford Bridge, but the pair have said they're not interested in the goal-shy Spaniard. His old club Atletico Madrid would love to have him back, but haven't the funds to do business with Chelsea - meaning that Torres looks set to remain the most costly bench warmer in the history of the game. ·