Lukas Podolski to Arsenal: Why It Makes Gunners Contenders Next Season

Who needs the transfer window? Arsenal may have just made themselves contenders next season—with the opening of the transfer window still a few months away.

Reports out of Europe suggest that Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign German striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne at the end of the season. The deal is reportedly worth £10.9 million, with Podolski set to earn more than £100,000 per week.

The Mail Online reports:

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An initial near-£18million asking price was dismissed as prohibitive by Arsenal, who began the bidding at around £8million. With Podolski underlining his eagerness to spearhead Arsene Wenger’s attack by quickly settling on personal terms, however, the Gunners came back with an improved offer that was reluctantly accepted by the Bundesliga club.

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Podolski, 26, joined Cologne from Bayern Munich in 2009. According to the Bundesliga's official website, he has scored 16 league goals this season, with 15 coming on his left foot.

The arrival of Podolski would help bolster an Arsenal attack that needs depth. The Gunners showed their attacking prowess in Tuesday's 3-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League. But when they needed a fourth goal to stay alive, the bench lacked options, and Arsenal came up short.

With Podolski in the squad, Arsenal would potentially rely less on Robin van Persie. Though RvP is having the best season of his career, the presence of another international-quality striker would allow Arsenal to rest their Dutch captain more often.

If the Mail Online's report is correct, Podolski's salary would represent a departure for Arsenal. Traditionally known for their strict wage structure, Arsenal lost star players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to richer clubs in the last offseason.

Now, though, Arsenal have started to show hints of a new financial philosophy.

That's good news for Arsenal supporters, as is Podolski's signing—if it does happen. Podolski, who has scored 43 times in 95 appearances for Germany, would provide an excellent boost to Arsenal.

And that salary, if it's real, suggests Arsenal could become a new, more aggressive presence in the transfer market.