Having labelled Inter Milan’s attempts to sign Lukas Podolski as ‘a joke’, Arsene Wenger has admitted the Italian side have returned with an offer that the club will consider.

Podolski has been fed up with lack of playing time, and the Italian side were strongly rumoured to be taking him on loan until the end of the season, but their proposal was met with stern words from the Arsenal manager.

However, after today’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Southampton, it seems they’ve upped the ante with Wenger saying, “The first proposal was farcical, after they came back a bit more serious, then we will see what happens now.

“Inevitable? Not in the transfer market, it’s very difficult to say, but we’ll see later.”

The Frenchman revealed that Podolski might have had a rare outing in the New Year’s Day clash had it not been for a groin injury.

“He was not available because of injury, but he would have had a big chance to start, yes. He has not practised for a few days now, since our last game at West Ham because of a tight groin.

“So I don’t think he will be available for Sunday.”

Whether it’s injury or “injury” that rules him out of the FA Cup game against Hull remains to be seen, but if you were to put money on Podolski being an Arsenal player at the end of January after this development, you’d be a wise to go small.