Schalke is reportedly lining up Lukas Podolski as a replacement for the seemingly outbound Raul. The Spanish striker has been a hit since arriving in Gelsenkirchen from Real Madrid in July 2010 but, with his lucrative contract set to expire next summer, he reportedly will have to take a salary cut if he is to remain with the Champions League semifinalists. Such a loss of wages he is far from c...Full Story »

Cologne says Germany forward Lukas Podolski escaped unhurt when he crashed his car into another vehicle while driving to training on Monday. Police say a three people in the car hit by Podolski were taken to be examined in a hospital as a precaution. Cologne quotes Podolski as saying “thank God, nothing much happened.” Podolski is nursing a left-calf injury sustained in the 3-0 lo...Full Story »

BERLIN (AP)—Lukas Podolski scored twice in a 3-0 win for Cologne over promoted Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday, and Hamburger SV drew 1-1 with Kaiserslautern. Podolski drifted in from the left before dispatching a shot past Simon Jentzsch in the 19th, and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a penalty five minutes later. “It makes the difference when you have such a player,&...Full Story »

BERLIN (AP)—Lukas Podolski scored in each half to give Cologne a 2-0 win over Hannover, costing the visiting side a chance to go second in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Podolski chipped a free kick over the Hannover wall past the helpless Ron-Robert Zieler in the 24th minute, and sealed the win against the run of play with a fine effort from the left in the 86th. Hannover had a goal ruled in...Full Story »

Lukas Podolski scored two goals and set up another to inspire Cologne to a 4-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in their Rhine derby in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Podolski set up Milivoje Novakovic in the 44th minute, before adding his own in the 47th and 54th. Simon Rolfes pulled one back in the 70th. Leverkusen striker Andre Schuerrle was sent off in injury time, before Mato Jajalo completed the sco...Full Story »

GDANSK, Poland (AP)—Germany coach Joachim Loew says he has not yet decided on his starting lineup for Tuesday’s friendly against Poland. Loew told a news conference Monday that Benedikt Hoewedes is still a doubt for the game. The Schalke defender only played the first half of Friday’s 6-2 win over Austria. Loew said “if there’s an element of risk, he’ll be r...Full Story »

Cologne says it has turned down an offer from Galatasaray for Germany forward Lukas Podolski. The Bundesliga club says it has told the Turkish side that it has “no interest in talks about a transfer” and that Cologne assumes Podolski will remain with the club. Podolski has been replaced as Cologne captain by new coach Stale Solbakken and there has been speculation that the forward ...Full Story »

Germany forward Lukas Podolski has been stripped of the captaincy by Cologne and Brazilian defender Pedro Geromel appointed as his successor, coach Stale Solbakken said on Monday. Norwegian Solbakken, yet to take charge of a competitive match since joining the club in June, acknowledged the decision could stir up discontent less than two weeks before the start of the Bundesliga season. ̶...Full Story »