Spurs, Arsenal & Man City Set To Lose Out As Klinsmann Vows To Take Podolski "Up To The Next Level"

German International striker Lukas Podolski will not be leaving Bundesliga side Bayern Munich according to new Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who intends to take the forward “up to the next level”.

23-year-old Podolski had been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, with Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all said to be interested in the forward, who starred at EURO 2008 earlier this summer.

Klinsman knows Podolski well from his two years as German National coach and has revealed that he intends to play Podolski in his preferred central-striker role as he prepares for his very first season as a club head coach.

Klinsmann told the club's official website: “I helped him a lot when I was in charge of the national team, and I know him well as a character and a sportsman.

“I know how to deal with him, and I think we'll get a great deal out of him in the future.

“Lukas has two years to go on his contract with us, so there are no questions to be answered. I'll go to great lengths to make sure Lukas feels happy at Bayern”.

German manager Joachim Low played Podolski in a wide left position during EURO 2008, with the player still scoring three times in the tournament in helping Germany to the final, something Klinsmann disagrees with.

He continued: “I don't regard Lukas as a wide player, but as a central striker, probably playing off a target man, but definitely in the centre.

“He scores his goals in and around the box, not from the left wing. I'm determined to bring him up to the next level.”