Arsenal are edging closer to ridding the club of Lukas Podolski, prompting fresh links between manager Arsene Wenger and PSG striker Edinson Cavani.

Paris Saint-Germain’s high-priced striker has been told that he can leave the Ligue 1 club, per Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman. He suggests that Cavani was left out of PSG’s winter training camp and is set for £62 million summer move to the Premier League, with Arsenal among the suitors.

The idea of Wenger spending £62 million in January and on yet another attacker may seem more than fanciful. However, the Gunners chief does seem set to ditch at least one forward option this winter.

Podolski’s exit appears increasingly likely to be the first bit of business the Gunners do during the January transfer window. Inter Milan remain determined to sign the Germany international.

The Serie A outfit is planning a second, improved loan offer. The Italian club hopes to eventually turn the loan into a permanent deal, worth £5 million, per Daily Mirror reporter John Cross.

Any improved offer is likely to have been prompted by Wenger referring to Inter’s initial interest as a “joke,” per Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law. Now Wenger has indicated that Inter are getting “serious,” per Sky Sports.

What does appear serious is Arsenal’s intention to move Podolski on. That’s long overdue, considering how disappointing the German has been since signing in 2012.

Podolski has never lost his knack for finishing. His thunderous left foot is still a threat to any defence. But his general effort, defensive awareness and movement have been consistently poor.

Wenger obviously doesn’t trust the 29-year-old. He’s given him just two starts in all competitions this season, none in the Premier League, per Arsenal.com.

The lack of playing time has left Podolski frustrated. He apparently left training in a huff on the eve of Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton, according to another report from Cross.

However, the player did move quickly to deny the tantrum took place, via his official Twitter account (h/t 101 Great Goals).

Yet Podolski’s now seemingly inevitable exit shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a precursor to Cavani’s arrival. Wenger has already played down any Cavani talk.

The French boss sounds satisfied with his options in attack, even if Podolski leaves, per Arsenal.com writer Chris Harris: “Offensively we have many options [when everyone is fit], too many to keep everyone involved with the right number of games, that is for sure.”

In this context, spending a fortune to add Cavani to an already crowded field would make little sense.

There’s also the context of Arsenal’s money being better spent fixing problems at the back. That’s certainly the view of B/R’s Janusz Michallik:

The Gunners’ season-long defensive woes were on display at Southampton. In particular, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured a nightmare day. His blunders were chiefly responsible for both Saints goals.

Szczesny’s calamitous streak could be prompting Arsenal’s sudden interest in Mainz stopper Loris Karius. The Gunners have joined Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 and Valencia as interested parties in the 21-year-old, according to Daily Mirror reporter James Nursey.

But it’s not just between the sticks where Arsenal have problems. Wenger needs another quality centre-back to cover and challenge established pair Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Finding help at that position will be the club’s priority during this month’s window, per Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph:

Reinforcing at the back has to be the focus for Wenger. He has enough resources in attack to cope.

But Arsenal’s season will continue to stutter until the defence improves.

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