Hannover managing director Martin Badar has confirmed the club are looking to take advantage of the uncertainty around Per Mertesacker’s Arsenal future to bring the defender back to Germany.
Mertesacker, 32, hasn’t featured for Arsenal this season after suffering a knee injury in pre-season and isn’t expected to return to the first-team until 2017.
The former Germany international, who has entered the final 12 months of his existing Arsenal deal, is thought to be considering his future after the signing of Shkodran Mustafi and his strong start to the season alongside Laurent Koscielny at the heart of their defence.
“All I know is what Hannover means for Per, and maybe we can inspire him again to play for us,” the London Evening Standard quote Badar as saying.
“The issue of Per Mertesacker is not currently high on our agenda. It’s obvious, because we are a second division side and he is the captain of Arsenal.
“A lot really has to come together so that a return is possible. The first requirement is that we get promoted.”
In the last six Premier League campaigns on two players have made more league appearances than Mertesacker for Arsenal (149).
For more stats on Per Mertesacker, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
