Podolski hints at Cologne exit

Lukas Podolski has hinted that he will leave Cologne at the end of the season, admitting he felt let down by the club’s broken promises.

The Germany international has claimed that he decided to rejoin his hometown club from Bayern Munich in 2009, after being sold on an ambitious sporting project which aimed to establish Cologne as one of the top six sides in the Bundesliga.

However, with the club currently hovering in mid-table, Podolski – who is out of contract at the end of next season – is feeling increasingly disillusioned and pessimistic about their future prospects.

“I was told that the club wanted to build a team around me that would be among the top eight in the league before then establishing itself in the top six and I committed myself to the move (to Koln) because I wanted to be a part of that project,” he told Bild am Sonntag.

“Christoph Daum once said that much has been promised and little delivered – I find myself that that has been confirmed. ”

“If you look at the proposals that were shown to me and what has ultimately come out of them – it is very disappointing.”

“You try every year to move forward but we never get anything other than a relegation battle, which is bitter.”

“I hoped for something else, because the conditions allow for much more – the stadium and fans are unique.”

Podolski, who has been linked with moves to both Arsenal and Lazio, reiterated that he has not yet made a decision on his future.