German side Hannover 96 hope to bring Per Mertesacker back to the club where he began his career once his Arsenal contract expires at the end of the season.
Mertesacker has been sidelined with a knee injury since pre-season and is not expected to feature until 2017. Even on his return the club captain faces a battle to secure regular first-team football with compatriot Shkodran Mustafi, a £35million summer signing from Valencia, having swiftly established himself alongside Laurent Koscielny.
The 32-year-old Arsenal club captain is out of contract at the end of the season and Hannover, who slipped into Bundesliga 2 for the first time since 2002 last season, hope he will return to the club he started out with as an 11-year-old.
Hannover’s managing director Martin Bader said: “All I know is what Hannover means for Per, and maybe we can inspire him again to play for us.
“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.”
Speaking earlier this week with Kicker Mertesacker admitted that he was considering his future at Arsenal as his contract expired and would “intensify those thoughts” in January.
Arsene Wenger would appear well-stocked in defensive areas with or without Mertesacker. Gabriel and Rob Holding currently provide cover for Koscielny and Mustafi whilst the Arsenal manager has insisted that Calum Chambers, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, has a long-term future at the Emirates.
