Lukas Podolski’s future is far from certain.

Although the German fancies a return to Arsenal to see out the final year of his contract, it’s not clear if Arsenal are agreeable to that arrangement.

With Inter Milan deciding against activating the clause in his loan agreement that would allow them to purchase the forward who only just scored his first goal for the side during the week, we had been speculating here on Daily cannon that he might have wished to move on a free to facilitate a return to FC Koln.

Speaking to Augsburger Allgemeine, the German club’s vice-president, Toni Schumacher, has put a lid on any such notions.

“I do not know [why fans dream of his return], but Lukas moves in very different spheres,” Schumacher said. “Everyone at the club has a great respect for Lukas, but a return does not fit into the existing system.

“We do not have superstars. The team is the star. We do not want to, once again, impose responsibility on an individual for success.

“Most fans understand that.”

Their vice-president was then asked for his opinion on the fans worship Poldi.

“Whoever has played here is in our heart”, he explained. “This applies to Lukas Podolski.

“With Bernd Cullmann, Wolfgang Overath and Hans Schafer it is no different.”

“Maybe this is also because of the Rhine. I think people who live by the water are just different.”