Goalkeeping Worries

Löw, concerned that his current first choice goalie has been warming the Arsenal bench since the end of August, has insisted Lehmann speaks to his club boss Arsene Wenger about his lack of first-team action.

With Germany preparing for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland next June, Löw is keen to have at least one of his goalkeepers playing regularly in the run up to the tournament.

Lehmann has been replaced by Spaniard Manuel Almunia at Arsenal and has only played three times for the first team all season. Timo Hildebrand, Germany's number two keeper, is in a similar situation at Valencia where he has been struggling to hold down a place since his summer move to Spain from Stuttgart.

Löw has made it clear that 38-year-old Lehmann must ascertain what his chances of winning back his place in the Arsenal side are before the Germany coach holds talks with his number one over the Christmas break.

Germany coach fretting over benched keepers

"Wenger and Jens are both people who have done a great deal for Arsenal," Löw told German sports agency SID. "They should be able to discuss the matter and get a better understanding of the situation. It is crucial Jens has a concrete understanding of what is going on and is not trying to guess."

After suffering an elbow and Achilles tendon injury in September, Lehmann has been unable to win his place back between the posts from Almunia, a situation that worries Löw. "Naturally, it is important a player has regular games, so he can stay sharp and get into a rhythm," the Germany coach added.

Lehmann has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga during the winter break, with VfL Wolfsburg expressing their interest in the former Borussia Dortmund stopper.

While Lehmann himself has given no indication that he wants to leave Arsenal, he has consistently made comments about his situation at the North London club during his time on the sidelines, leading to a rift with his rival Almunia and angering his employers.

Arsenal boss dismisses Wolves interest

Despite Lehmann's vocal displeasure, Arsenal boss Wenger has dismissed rumors linking his unsettled goalkeeper with a return to his native Germany in the January transfer window.

"It's not true," Wenger said. "It's only newspaper talk because nothing concrete has been discussed between me and Jens and nothing between me and Wolfsburg. At the moment I do not want to speculate on any movement in the transfer window. We want to focus on our games and Jens is part of that."

Back in Germany, both Oliver Bierhoff, the national team's general manager, and former number one Oliver Kahn have urged Lehmann to switch clubs in January if he wants to keep his Euro 2008 dreams alive.

Quit now to keep dream alive, say Bierhoff and Kahn

"Looking ahead at Euro 2008 it is certainly important that we have a goalkeeper who plays all the time. Should that not be the case, I would advise him to look for a new club during the winter break where he can play continuously," Bierhoff said in October.

Kahn, who lost his place in the national team to Lehmann before the 2006 World Cup, recently told his bitter rival to quit Arsenal for the sake of his international career, should the future in London remain bleak.

"Jens Lehmann's services to the national team have been impeccable, but you can't play in a European championship when you are not in the team," Kahn told DSF television. "That's why it would be best for him to go and play where he will be in the team."