Lukas Podolski joins Arsenal

Lukas Podolski: Moving to Arsenal from Cologne this summer

A move for the Germany international has been mooted for some time and now Cologne have confirmed Podolski will link up with Arsenal for next season.Arsenal have confirmed they have agreed a deal to sign Cologne striker Lukas Podolski this summer for an undisclosed fee.

Cologne have reluctantly agreed to sell their top striker rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer when his contract was due to expire.

Sky Bet Odds

After completing his move to Arsenal Lukas Podolski is 5/4 to score on Premier Lg debut and 33/1 to score a hat trick! 

The signing is something of a coup for Arsenal with a number of clubs across Europe thought to be in the chase to land Podolski this summer.

The arrival of Podolski will help add to Arsene Wenger's attacking options and relieve the goalscoring burden on this season's top scorer Robin van Persie.

Podolski admitted the chance to move to Arsenal was just too good to turn down.

Great opportunity

"The move to Arsenal gives me the opportunity to play at international level in a top European club," Podolski told Cologne's official website.

"I chose not to leave FC, but for this great opportunity in my sporting career.

"The decision for this step is not easy for me because FC Koln, the city and the fans are very special for me.

"I'll wear the FC always in my heart. We must now concentrate all the forces together and focus exclusively on the league."

Arsenal chief Wenger was delighted to bring in Podolski as the club's first signing of the summer.

"We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future," Wenger told the club's official website.

"He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options."

@SkySports

Neymar is better than Lionel Messi - Clodoaldo

Neymar better than Messi, says Brazil legend

Brazil legend Clodoaldo said Neymar is now the best player in the world.

Brazil legend Clodoaldo said Neymar is now the best player in the world.

Clodoaldo said even when he is not at his best, the Santos forward still contributes greatly to his team's cause - unlike Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.

The latter is widely regarded as the greatest talent in the game today, having broken all sorts of records with Barca and picked up the Ballon d'Or for the past three years.

However, Clodoaldo believes Neymar is superior because he never has a bad game.

"I'm an admirer of his," the World Cup winner told Goal.com.

"I think he is now the best player in world football.

"I say that while acknowledging that, Messi, for example, is fantastic, but when he plays badly, he plays very badly.

"But Neymar, when he plays badly, he still manages to be a seven (out of 10). He can have a reasonable influence on the game even when he is performing at his minimum level, which is a very positive side of Neymar."

Clodoaldo also weighed in on the ongoing debate over whether the 20-year-old attacker needs to move overseas at some stage in his career to fully realise his potential, claiming that Neymar may come to accept that if he is to be accepted as better than Messi, he will have to prove himself in Europe.

"I think that the future will bring a need for Neymar moving to Europe," the former Santos midfielder said.

"I believe he will be here for another good while yet, but I am sure that the need and the curiosity to play against the great teams of Italy, Germany, England and Spain will appeal to him and awaken his curiosity to know how he would fare in these leagues.

"In Santos, he could end up participating in tournaments against Real Madrid, against Chelsea and so on. But if this does not happen in the coming years, I think we'll see him moving to another continent.

"I'm not saying it will happen now but maybe after the World Cup (in 2014).

"He may feel the need to leave not because he will take the crown of Pele, but because he will want to take the crown of Messi."

Neymar's contract with Santos runs until 2014 and it has been claimed that he will link up with Messi's Barcelona at that point.

@Soccerway

Marko Marin to sign for Chelsea FC

Chelsea Football Club have today (Saturday) agreed to sign Marko Marin from Werder Bremen.
Both clubs have agreed a fee and the 23-year-old midfielder has agreed personal terms.
Marin, a German international, will join Chelsea in the summer.

@ChelseaFC.com

What next for Guardiola?

Pep Guardiola: Leaving Barcelona after four trophy-laded years in charge at Camp Nou

It was on Friday announced Pep Guardiola is to leave Barcelona at the end of the season after deciding he does not want to renew his rolling one-year contract. The classy Catalan, at an emotional press conference, has explained his reasons for deciding the time is right to quit Camp Nou. But what now for Guardiola? Here Sky Sports considers the options.

It is the most likely scenario given the weight of pressure Guardiola has been under since taking over at Barcelona in 2008. A year on the beach and travelling the world would be the perfect way to rest a body that, over the space of four years, has appeared to take the strain. It has been questioned whether Guardiola would be able to completely free himself of the drug of football for 12 months. But for a man of such steely determination, focus and belief in his own methods, it is unlikely he would change any plans for rest and recuperation. A sabbatical seems a certainty. Guardiola always said his time in charge of Barcelona would prove a short-term period. The term 'burnout' has often been used to refer to the pressures which have been placed on Guardiola and his Barcelona squad after a phase of intense and trophy-laden success. The philosophical concentration on tactics, team spirit, style and principles took its toll. Guardiola is said to be exhausted.

Sky Bet Odds

Guardiola's next club: Arsenal 9/4, Chelsea 11/4, England 4/1, Manchester Utd 6/1, Manchester City 8/1, Liverpool 10/1.

Club management

Understandably for a manager with a curriculum vitae that includes three Primera Liga titles, one Copa del Rey - which could become two come the end of the season - three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two European Super Cups and two Club World Cups, Guardiola will be in high demand. The 41-year-old's style of play, widely nicknamed Tiki-taka, and his commitment to youth development also mean he will be the most in-demand manager in world football when he decides to return to work. There are said to have already been offers and contact from some unnamed clubs. Among the potential approaches could be Manchester City and Chelsea. Both have the wealth to offer a lucrative contract and the latter, particularly, would likely be prepared to pay whatever it takes to get their man. Chelsea are without a permanent manager and, despite the success of Roberto Di Matteo as interim first-team coach, Roman Abramovich would most likely love to recruit Guardiola. He perfectly fits the vision of style combined with success that Abramovich is still seeking. But the recruitment policy and day-to-day business which exists at both City and Chelsea would represent completely different challenges and mentalities for Guardiola. He is not one to simply throw money at signings. Manchester United have also been connected and will eventually need a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, whose own success and 26-year longevity in the face of such pressure now appears all the more incredible when compared to Guardiola's decision to leave Barcelona. It seems unlikely any club will be able to immediately recruit Guardiola, who is wary of any act that could be perceived as betrayal to Barcelona.

International job

Perhaps in an indication of English arrogance, Guardiola has immediately been linked with the job as England manager. The English Football Association would most likely relish the thought of Guardiola. But why a Spaniard of morals and exacting standards would want to take such a poisoned chalice of a job as the role of England manager is difficult to understand. Whether Guardiola thinks England's players have the ability to play in his vision is another issue which would need to be considered. It has been suggested Guardiola, during his time out of the game, would be welcomed at the FA's new National Football Centre at St George's Park when it opens. It is pitched that Guardiola would spend a day giving talks on coaching style and methods and could lift the lid on the secrets of Barcelona's famous La Masia school. Again, why Guardiola would feel any wish to do so is open to debate.

@SkySports

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