Cologne forward Lukas Podolski is set to sign a four-year contract with Arsenal at the end of the season after the two clubs agreed a deal for the Germany international, Bild newspaper reported Thursday. Podolski, who returned to Cologne in 2009 after struggling for three years at Bayern Munich, has scored 16 Bundesliga goals this season for the club which is fifth from bottom and fighting to avoid the drop. Cologne, which has so far failed in its efforts to extend the player's contract, refused to comment on the Bild report. Podolski's deal at the club is due to end next year. ‘City eyes Van Persie' Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he is interested in making Arsenal captain Robin van Persie the club's fifth recent signing from its Premier League rival. The 28-year-old Van Persie's contract expires at the end of next season but has said he will not discuss a new agreement until this campaign is over. Mancini was widely quoted by British media Thursday as saying “we are interested in all good players ... I think all the good teams are interested in Van Persie.” Spurs in Cup quarters Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-1 fifth round replay win at home to Stevenage Wednesday after it was given another fright by its third tier opponent. Eight-time FA Cup winner Tottenham will be at home to Premier League struggler Bolton Wanderers in the quarterfinals. Rangers out of Euro Crisis club Rangers suffered a fresh blow Wednesday when administrators said there was “no realistic prospect” of the Scottish champion being allowed to play in European competitions next season. Joint administrator Paul Clark said the way the Glasgow giants had been run by owner Craig Whyte had left Rangers with almost no chance of meeting UEFA's criteria for a license before the European football governing body's deadline of March 31. “As regards the club playing in European competitions next season, there is no realistic prospect of the club being able to fulfil its obligations prior to the March 31 deadline set by UEFA,” Clark said in a statement that effectively ruled Rangers out of next term's lucrative Champions League as well as the Europa League. In a fresh blow the stricken club, the Scottish Football Association said Rangers faced a charge of bringing the game into disrepute over their financial affairs.
