Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger coy on Lukas Podolski speculation
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger admits Lukas Podolski is a "good player" but refuses to confirm that a deal has been done
Arsène Wenger refused to be drawn on reports suggesting Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Lukas Podolski from Cologne in the summer on Friday.
Widespread reports have claimed that the Gunners have all but clinched a deal in the region of £11m for the Germany forward – but Wenger remained typically coy over his business in the transfer market.
“I have not a lot to say about that because if we sign a player we’ll inform you and at the moment we have not signed anybody,” he told a news conference on Friday. “There is still no agreement.
“The distance to the agreement is not always linked with the signing. Many times when you are very close [to signing a player], you are quickly very far again. But Podolski is good player – I wouldn’t deny that.”
Wenger also brushed off suggestions that Podolski could be seen as a replacement for captain Robin van Persie, who is sure to attract interest from a host of top clubs in the summer following a prolific season and with his contract set to expire in 2013.
“When we sign any player, even Podolski, we’ll inform you,” he added. “Our plan is to keep Robin van Persie even if we buy any player.”
Meanwhile, Wenger also confirmed that Jack Wilshere is making progress in his recovery from the ankle injury which has kept him out of action this season.
The England midfielder has suffered a number of setbacks since limping out of a pre-season game with the problem.
“Jack Wilshere had a scan this morning and we were expecting news but when I walked out to the training session at 11am we still had no information about the scan,” said Wenger.
“[Wilshere’s] progress in training is very good. What you do not want is a setback – and a setback could be a bad scan. But the clinical signs are all very good.
“When you look at his ankle it is not inflamed but we are a bit over-cautious with him because of the setbacks we have had.” 
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Read more on: Arsenal, Arsène Wenger, Football transfers, Jack Wilshere, lukas podolski, Premier League, Robin van Persie.
